In just three days' time Helston will be in full on celebration mode as the town is given over to Flora Day 2017.

The bunting has been up for the last week and on Friday greenery and flowers will go up on the outside of businesses and houses, ready for the big day this Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on Helston for its annual feast day, with the forecast looking dry.

As the bells of St Michael's Parish Church ring out at 6.30am, Helstonians will begin pouring into the town centre to stand outside the Guildhall for the first dance of the day.

With Helston Town Band gathered outside the Guildhall, a hush will fall as the town clock begins to strike 7am and with it the first boom of the bass drum, heralding the start of the Morning Dance.

This year the honour of kicking off the day's dancing falls to sisters Lisa Robson and Lucy Bassett, together with their respective dance partners Shaun Howells and Graham Cook.

It is also their job to end the day's dancing at 5pm, with the Evening Dance.

Between those times there will be a day of merriment, which continues with the Hal-an-Tow pageant from 8am, taking place at various locations around the town. This year there are some exciting new changes that will see a group of the Green Men enter agreed shops and homes to ward out evil and announce the impending arrival of the main Hal-an-Tow players.

There is a return to dancing at 9.40am, as more than 1,500 children from the town's three primary schools and secondary school line up in Wendron Street for the start of the Children's Dance. Dressed in white and wearing the colours of their school in their ties and floral headdresses, the children will follow the slightly shortened route of recent years and not break at Lismore Gardens, instead continuing all the way round.

All eyes will once again be on the Guildhall at noon, ready for the start of the Midday Dance. First out the door will be Robert Eddy and Paula Butler, immediately followed by Ben Blaber and Sarah Sneddon. The couples will then swap positions at Lismore Gardens, so that both have a chance to lead.

There is then a break in the afternoon, during which time many people head to the fairground set up opposite Coronation Park, before the close of dancing from 5pm.