Helston Flora Day Association has said it is “delighted” that the town’s roads have been newly resurfaced in time for the festival on May 8.

However, people taking part in all four of the event’s dances have still been warned to take care.

The association said: “We are delighted that Cornwall Council has attended to the road surfaces in the town, but the stewards of the dance would still remind the participants in the dances and the viewing public to be aware that there may still be some uneven surfaces under foot.”

Despite being on a week day this year, a Wednesday, large crowds are still expected to visit Helston to enjoy the annual event, with the usual “tremendous enthusiasm and support” being shown for the fast-approaching day.

This was one of the reasons why the association has asked any parents wanting to see their children in Lismore Gardens to make their way onto the lawns well before the dance arrived.

This was particularly important if their child needed medication or refreshments, as it was sometimes necessary to close the gates to any more people once the dancers had entered due to the volume of people in the gardens.

“Entry into properties and gardens on the route of the dances is a great privilege to us and we would remind the public that it is by courtesy of the owners who retain the right to close their gates/doors if they so wish. We ask you to respect their properties,” added the association.

The stewards were “delighted” as ever that Helston Town Band would be there playing the tune, “as only they are able.”

“We thank them for encouraging so many young musicians to join with the older members, so that in years to come we will still have a full complement of players,” said the association.

They asked members of the public to support the band by giving generously to the collectors who would be following the dances, particularly because the cost of buying instruments and supporting the band was ever increasing.

The routes of the dances will be the same as last year, with the Midday Dance beginning at the Guildhall and proceeding on the road into Meneage Street.

Halfway through the Children’s’ Dance, the second band will remain at the bend in Church Street and then follow the dancers into Lismore.

Because this worked so well last year, this will be repeated outside the Grylls Monument towards the end of the dance, when the second band will remain and follow the dancers up Coinagehall Street.

“We hope that this will enable the dancers to enjoy the music from the band for a much longer period in those areas,” explained the association.

Cornwall Council has asked that property owners take down any greenery from their buildings early on Thursday, May 9 so that the collection teams can remove it from the streets by 8.30am.

It is important that any people living on a road affected by a street closure notice not put their rubbish out for the usual Wednesday collection, which will not take place in these areas and will leave the town looking unsightly on its feast day.

For these people their normal Wednesday refuse collections will take place the following day on Thursday, May 9. Rubbish will need to be put out ready to be collected by 7am.

All affected households should receive a letter in the post two weeks beforehand. Anyone with questions can call Cornwall Council customer services on 0300 1234 141.