MORRIS dancers have been cancelled by woke town hall bosses — for wearing grey face paint.
Labour town councillors pulled £3,000 in festival funding, accusing one team of “blacking up” and claiming “diversity policy” was not followed.
Some morris dance groups traditionally used to wear blackface, but it was banned.
The Witchmen wore grey make-up as they competed with 12 teams for the annual Sandbach Stick in Cheshire market town Sandbach’s Day of Dance.
But after June’s contest, Labour councillor Sandrene Wright insisted: “Saying it was grey, not black, is just semantics.
“I didn’t believe it was inclusive. They haven’t followed the council’s rules or diversity policy.
“We cannot be seen to be promoting racism.”
Residents are fuming about the decision and fear for the event’s future.
Ann Nevitt said: “Had the paint been black, I would have been offended.
“The colour used was a blue/grey and it was in line with the rules of the Joint Morris Association.”
David Watkinson added: “I’ve lost complete faith in our local council after this fiasco.”
The Sandbach Day of Dance Committee said: “There were thirteen sides from across England and Wales, of which three had colours of either red, green or grey.”
Morris dancer blackface was thought to have been to hide the identities of participants, often seen as beggars.
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