FOLK enthusiasts from across the North and further afield headed to Ulverston for the annual gathering of traditional music, dance and art.

The market town has welcomed Morris and clog dancers, musicians and storytellers to the Furness Tradition Folk Festival this weekend.

The festivities got started on Thursday with Steve Wharton's Cumbria Songs and Stories at Natterjacks and a pre-festival warm up session of songs at The Hope and Anchor, followed by an opening party night on Friday at the Coronation Hall for locals and festival guests.

On Saturday spectators watched the Grand opening parade of dancers, led by Cumbria Gaits Band from the Coronation Hall to Market Cross.

New Market Street hosted rhythmic stepping, bells, colourful costumes and lively music. Among those entertaining visitors were the Darlington Mummers, the oldest revivalist Mummers team in the country, Leyland's Stone the Crows Morris team, Pateley Long Sword, and local sides Furness Clog Dancers and Furness Morris.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Furness Tradition Folk Festival 2017 <a href="https://t.co/wXZFfQYTre">pic.twitter.com/wXZFfQYTre</a></p>— Natalie Chapples (@nchapplesNWEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/nchapplesNWEM/status/883694771700629504">July 8, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Music acts took to the Tom Bradley Stage at Market Cross, including Family Farren, Weird String Band and Mike Willoughby's Raving Rock to perform for festival goers.

The storytellers included West Cumbria's Ian Douglas, Dougie Mackay with tales from the Highlands and Scots folk history, and Ulverston's Mark Borthwick.

An afternoon acoustic concert featured the sounds of folk trio Night Fall and duo Eddie Seaman and Luc McNally, who combine English Folk songs with Highland pipe music.

For those who could not get to the festival, dance and music was brought them with performers making visits to Swarthdale care home and Ellerside and Mill Dam sheltered housing.

Tina Boyle, who performs with Furness Clog Dancer and organises of the dance teams for Furness Tradition Folk Festival, said:"We take the festival to those who can't get here too and they have enjoy it.

"This is a friendly festival, people like to come back year after year, and we have also have new performers.

"We get a good reception in the town centre, people stand and watch the dance and music.

"We want to keep this traditional dance, music and art going."