A traditional May Day celebration by Cockwood Primary School featured country dancing, singing, and a dance around the maypole.

The event on Friday, May 1st began with a procession through the village, before the community celebration on the village green.

Playing a starring role - along with the school’s May King and Queen - was Dawlish’s first Junior Town Crier, Rosie Holmes, who is a pupil at Cockwood Primary.

Special guests included the Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Katharine Davidson KC DL, Dawlish Town Mayor Cllr Anthony James, Deputy Town Mayor Lynda Littlewood and Dawlish Town Crier Bob Graham.

Head of School Alison Roper said: “This celebration was the perfect culmination to our volunteer week, ‘We Are Cockwood—We Are Ivy’, during which every single child took part in an activity to benefit others.

“Our pupils have been remarkably busy and thoughtful, tidying the church grounds, planting a wildflower meadow, planting flower troughs throughout the village, visiting our local nursing home to chat with residents, and creating models for the forthcoming flower festival at the local church.

“It has been truly heartwarming to see our pupils engage so meaningfully with the community around them, and it was wonderful to see such high-level community support for our school and village.

“As part of the Ivy Education Trust we value commitment, courage, compassion and collaboration and we have seen this demonstrated in abundance throughout the week.”