IT has been an eventful week for the Wath Morris Men who found themselves an the centre of a social media storm.

After the news that the group would not be attending Wath’s Christmas Festival last weekend, and an online backlash subsequently blew up, members have had to set the record straight about what they describe as a ‘storm in a teacup’.

The news of its absence did come as a blow to the group, which is typically at its busiest over the festive period and relies on public appearances to increase its ageing membership.

Chris said: “As with anything on the fringes, trying to get young people involved is hard.

“If we don’t get newer members we are in danger of folding and that’s why we are really keen to get out and about. We try to get to as many events as possible in December when it’s busier.

“The danger is that having been going for 43 years, and still having quite a few of the original members, some of the more energetic dances have had to be modified.”

Chris, though, said the decision not to include the Morris Men in the village’s annual celebrations was not a case of ‘banning’ them, as some online had suggested.

“It was a bit of a storm in a teacup,” said Morris Man Chris Willis. “Social media has blown it all out of proportion.

“We didn’t have time to do the appropriate risk assessment for a group of dancers in a very busy area.

“The older lads in the group have been together as part of the community for 43 years and have performed at the Christmas event for many years so they weren’t pleased, but I have spoken to the organiser and settled things amicably.”

The social media uproar has even drawn attention to the group, with Chris saying it has received requests to perform and engage in school visits.

Chris, at 42, is one of the younger members of the group and said it could be a blessing in disguise, allowing the Morris Men to educate young people on their role in the community.

“It gets painted as a beardy man’s activity but it was a young man’s thing originally,” Chris, of Hooberfield Road, Hoober, said. “Performances were about who could dance the longest and jump the highest out of all the community.

“In England there’s a slight stigma attached to it, but in Scotland and Ireland it’s a massive part of the culture. It would be a real shame if it was to come to an end, it would be another tradition lost.”

The group practises every Tuesday night at Wath Rugby Club.

Their next performance will be on Tuesday at 8pm at Wath Tap, on High Street, where members will perform sword dances and sing carols to raise money for Bluebell Wood.

They will then perform at Dodworth Fire Festival at 7.30pm on Tuesday December 11, Wath Fire Festival at 6.30pm on Sunday December 23 and do a dance tour through Wath, Wentworth and Worsbrough starting at 10.30am on Boxing Day.