YOUNGSTERS stepped back in time to recreate traditional May Day celebrations at the weekend.

On Saturday, Beamish Colliery Village, which is within the open air museum, near Gateshead, became a hive of old-fashioned May festivities.

The children began the events with a ceremony in the village school to crown the May king and queen, followed by a procession around the colliery led by the royal couple and their attendants.

Pupils from West Pelton Primary School and Sunderland's Grange Park Primary School joined in the celebrations.

They dressed in period costume and took part in a lively Maypole dancing display.

To complete the event, the Hexham Morrismen performed three dances at locations around the museum site