A call has been made to bring back the traditional art of morris dancing to schools.

That's the solution put forward by Colchester's morris men and the town's MP to help save part of the country's heritage - which many fear will be extinct in the next 20 years.

Adrian Copley of Colchester Morris Men said: "In the last ten years we have recruited six people of whom five have stayed with us.

"We have 22 in our side at the moment, which we can draw on to put on dances, but all it takes is for a few of them to go sick or go on holiday and we would be struggling."

The youngest member is 33-year-old Tim Wharton but the majority of the dancers are in their 40s and 50s, with the oldest aged 64.

Mr Copley said: "They used to teach it in schools and that's how it got started again after the war.

“Tim got taught it while at school by one of our other morris men and I do think if they re-introduced it that would be a good start."

He added: “I also think it would work if we taught young people the essentials and then they went off and set up their own side.

“I think a junior section would be a brilliant idea."

The Colchester club began life in 1926 and was re-established in 1953 by, among others, Ewart 'Rusty' Russell, father of Colchester MP Bob.

The Lib Dem member has joined the calls for the dance to be brought back to schools – and for its practice to be more widely recognised around the country in general.

“It's a very English problem,” he said.

“The traditional folk culture of Ireland, Scotland and Wales is celebrated, but ours isn't.

“For example, Arts Council England spends more money promoting Latin American art than English working class folk culture – that's just not right.

He added: “There was a big folk revival in the 1960s and 1970s and we need another one.”

Mr Russell says there are just not enough young people joining the Colchester group to ensure its survival.

“Perhaps they think it's namby pamby – but it's very demanding and you have to be very fit,” said the MP, who attends the group's annual Boxing Day dance every year.

“Colchester is a very good side. If you think of it in football terms, they are in the premier league.”

However, he added that he didn't believe the art would die out completely.

“I think it will always linger on,” he said.

“But there's a difference between lingering on and being at the top.”

For more information about the Colchester group, visit colchestermorrismen.org