MORRIS dancers joined forces to jig the day away to mark the almost forgotten Kirby riot.

On Sunday, the Ship Inn pub was surrounded by onlookers watching a spectacular display of morris dancing arranged to remember local labourers who lost everything in a revolt.

The Kirby riot in 1830 saw 300 agricultural workers march through the area to protest against low wages and poor conditions.

Members of the angry mob surged towards the Red Lion pub, where farm bosses were drinking, to demand better treatment.

After the riot, the ringleaders were shipped off to Van Diemen’s Land on the other side of the world.

Even after their sentences were over, they had no way to get home, so were forced to abandon hope of going back to their families.

Walton man Malcolm Batty, of the Soken Molly Gang morris dancers, organised the event to commemorate them.

The Soken Molly Gang was joined by Priory Morris dancers from St Osyth and Leading Lights Morris from Harwich for the performance.

Mr Batty said: “It was a fantastic day and a great way to celebrate them.”