HUNDREDS of people are expected to watch the Britannia coconut dancers set off on their traditional "boundary dance" over Easter.

The event has taken place for more than 200 years and sees the clog group skipping through Bacup stopping at various places to dance.

The coconut dancers are led by Richard Shufflebottom, who will dance for the 50th time. He has led the troupe for 25 years.

They will depart from the Travellers Rest pub in Rochdale Road, Britannia, at 9am on Saturday, April 7. They then head towards Shuttleworth and Bacup town centre, before finishing at the area boundary at The Glen.

The dancers perform folk jigs and blacken their faces - a tradition thought to date back to medieval times to disguise the dancers from being recognised by evil spirits afterwards.

The black faces may also reflect mining connections.