THERE was much joy, laughter and dancing at this year’s May Day celebrations at the picturesque village of Lustleigh.

Residents, revellers and other interested parties converged on the village to celebrate the biggest event of the year for Lustleigh: May Day.

Lustleigh May Day celebrations, which had lapsed until 1905 when Cecil Torr revived it, typically feature a carnival procession, Maypole dancing and crowning of the May Queen and this year was no different.

Celebrations kicked off at 1pm with the general opening of stalls, the playing of games, the painting of faces and the consuming of traditional Devon cream teas and donated cakes.

The parade got under way just after 2pm, with the prospective May Queens, dancers and other revellers making their way to the village orchard for the crowning: marching with musical accompaniment courtesy of the Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band. This year was different from previous for there were not one, not two, but three May Day Queen’s crowned: Arabella Kennaird-Melling, Isla McCabe and Imogen Woodcock.

In a post on their Facebook page, the Lustleigh May Day organisers said: ‘Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this a such a fantastic day.

‘A massive thank you to the dancers, you were all amazing, you did your three May Queens proud.’

The May Queens for 2020 and 2021 were crowned alongside the May Day Queen of the moment.

Rounding out the festivities with some maypole dancing, Lustleigh May Day came to an close around 5pm.