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It looks like something plucked straight out of the Middle Ages, or even a fairytale.

Some may even say it is a little odd, but following an announcement the ancient tradition was on the verge of dying out, morris dancing has been catapulted into the international spotlight.

Men sporting flowery hats, waving hankies, clashing sticks and shaking bells are now the subject of a feature-length film and have attracted the attention of one of the world’s leading publications.

Hartley Morris Men have been jigging and mumming around Kent for more than 70 years, making it one of the oldest groups in the county.

But until now it has never had anything like the attention afforded to some of the world’s most influential figures.

Most of the team’s 30 members don their white suits, straw hats, bells and handkerchiefs for low-key rehearsals at St George’s Hall, in Wrotham, each week, followed by a quick jig to the ale pumps at a local pub.

But next week they will play host to a TIME Magazine reporter, keen to tap into an explosion of interest in morris dancing typified by the release of 'Morris: A Life With Bells On’, a low-budget comedy, which critics say could actually make morris dancing sexy.

However, before all that, and before the group met one of our illustrious journalistic cousins from across the pond, they tried out some of their moves on reporter Simon Tulett.

Click the video on the right to see how he got on...

For more on morris dancing and Simon's time with Hartley Morris Men see this week's Dartford Messenger.