THE Britannia Coconutters plan to break with a tradition that goes back almost 150 years to celebrate the new millennium.

Easter Saturday is traditionally the dancers' annual day when they dance boundary to boundary in Bacup.

But for Easter Saturday 2000 they are doing something different and will invite up to six other Morris Dance troupes to the town for a spectacular event of music and dance.

Coconutters' secretary Tom Healey has written to Rossendale Council looking for help with the extravaganza.

He said: "We want to show the people of Bacup what it's like when we travel to other folk festivals and give them the chance to witness the same.

"We have written to several teams and if we get the yes replies and we know who has committed themselves we can begin to formulate a plan of action."

The coconutters make an imposing sight as they dance their way through the streets with their blackened faces, hats like turbans decorated with rosettes and coloured feathers, red and white kilts, white stockings and shining black Lancashire clogs. They normally set off at 9am from the Travellers' rest pub and dance in every other pub along their route where each landlord offers a free drink to keep the team going.

Their display culminates with an exhibition of dancing in Bacup town centre that normally attracts throngs of people from miles around.

The coconut dance is unique to this country and the dancers tap out rhythms on wooden discs or "nuts" fastened to their knees, waists and hands.

It is not known officially where the dances come from, but it is known they were performed in feudal times and that they are usually accompanied by the English concertina.

Stacksteads Brass Band also accompanies the "nutters" on the Easter Saturday route.

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