HIT me with your rhythm stick could have been the theme song for the 29th Wimborne Folk Festival as hundreds of bell-jingling, stick-bashing morris dancers filled the streets.

Around every corner, shady or in the full burning sun, there were gatherings of musicians and brightly-clad people ready to break into a dance at the drop of a hat.

Speaking of hats, there were some pretty interesting specimens to be found, mostly on the heads of male morris dancers.

“They’re a fertility symbol,” said one breathless dancer.

For a time yesterday afternoon, there were four morris sides dancing in unison in the Square: Wicket Brood from Bricket Wood, Herts; Foxes Morris from Worcestershire; Powder Keg from Derbyshire; and Exmoor Border Morris. They danced the Worcestershire Monkey followed by Just as the Tide was Aflowing With a combined roar and a hefty clash of sticks they got the crowd going and earned a solid round of applause.

The three-day event that began on Friday drew thousands of people into the town for a musical feast. And they got it with pubs, clubs and other venues opening their door to musicians.

The Mangle Wurzels were playing rustic rabble-rousers in The Bell, there were Irish sessions in the Pudding and Pie, English music in the Royal British Legion and a ceilidh at Queen Elizabeth School.

The festival was begun by Brian Bisp who suffered a stroke five years ago.

His wife Maria said: “He used to look after the dancing and I used to look after the street markets.

“I had to take on the dance as well.

“This year he’s played more of an active part. He’s a lot better and is helping me.”

Among those taking part were local teams the Bourne Bumpers and Bourne River, who have been there from the start.