As the flags go up in the streets of Helston, the Flora Day Association stewards have announced a few changes to this year's event.

This year's Midday Dance will have an extra element to it, as for the first time in a number of years the procession will be able to enter the Old Vicarage thanks to Sir Nicholas and Lady Serota.

All renovations have been completed to the garden and so the dance will continue after Penhellis Gardens via Cross Street, through the Old Vicarage gates, through the garden then on to Leslie House Gardens.

The general route will be largely as last year, beginning at the Guildhall and continuing up Meneage Street, and will include dancing through Lismore Gardens as usual.

The variation to Children's Dance of recent years will remain, with the dancers not entering Lismore Gardens, although property Michael Jay has agreed that they can enter via the small gate in Cross Street and then proceed immediately around to the driveway of the house, to exit onto Cross Street.

At the start of the dance, at 9.40am, the second band will stand and play at the junction of Wendron Street and Meneage Street by Lloyds Bank, as in previous years, and spectators are asked to leave space for them.

When the dance reaches the Grylls Monument, the second band will remain outside and then following the children back up Coinagehall Street.

The second band will remain outside the Monument and follow the dancers up Coinagehall Street to finish, at around 10.50am.

Access to Lismore Gardens will be available to spectators for the Midday Dance after the children’s dance has passed and later in the day for the Evening Dance.

Nick Wills, secretary of the Flora Day Association, said: "Entry into properties and gardens on the route of the dances is a great privilege to us and we would remind the public that it is by courtesy of the owners who retain the right to close their gates/doors if they so wish. We ask you to respect their properties."

The stewards said they were "delighted" that Helston Town Band would, as always, be playing the Flora Dance tune as only they now how, and congratulated members on their recent section win in the West of England Brass Band Association's regional finals. They urged the public to give generously to the collection pots carried alongside the dances, especially as the band travels to Cheltenham in September to compete in the National Brass Band Championships.

"We thank them for encouraging so many young musicians to join with the older members, so that in years to come we will still have a full complement of players," added Mr Wills.

Anyone also able to donate towards the running costs of the day, including the insurances and health and safety matters, can email helstonfloraday@yahoo.co.uk.

Road closures and parking restrictions will be in force on Flora Day from 6.30am and the stewards have asked that cars are not parked in the streets overnight on Monday, as they may cause an obstruction early in the morning of Flora Day.

They have also warned that while Cornwall Council has repaired many road surfaces in the town, dancers and spectators should be aware that there may still be some uneven surfaces under foot.

Greenery should be taken down from buildings before 8.30am next Wednesday, so that collection teams can remove it from the streets. Any greenery left out after that time may not be collected.