Threats of showers for this year’s Helston Flora Day held off today to give dancers and spectators and dry day with occasional blue skies to enjoy the festivities.

People lined the town’s main streets from 6.30am onwards ready for the first dance at 7am. Helston Town Band were greeted by a big cheer as they began the familiar music.

Despite not having the masses that would arrive later on for the children’s dance and the midday dance, plenty of well-wishers were on hand to club the early-morning dancers and look forward to the day ahead. Some spectators did not even change out of their pyjamas and gained vantage points from windows. Others did not hesitate in getting a drink in hand.

At 8.30am the first Hal-An-Tow pageant took place at St Johns, as crowds watched St George slay the dragon and the master of ceremonies toast Helston’s “special day.” Newly re-elected MP Andrew George was on hand to play St Piran in the pageants before he got changed for the midday dance.

As more and more people arrived in Helston, it was the turn of the youngsters to dance through town for the children’s dance. Led by children from Parc Eglos School, all of the town’s primary schools and Helston Community College followed the band along the route.

Once the children got their well-deserved rest, people jostled for vantage points in time for the midday dance so they had a good view of the men in top hats and tails and women in a rainbow of dresses.

The midday dancers were led out by Stephen Songhurst and Karen Anderton and the women made Helston a sea of colour as the couples danced in and out of shops joining in what is one of the most memorable moments of a Helstonian’s life.

Don't forget to pick up your Flora Day picture special supplement tomorrow free with the voucher on the front of the Helston Packet.