THIS was the scene in High Street, Oxford, in 1981 as revellers celebrated May morning.

A maypole was hastily erected in the middle of the road and a huge crowd gathered to watch a group of morris dancers in action.

As usual, thousands of people had assembled at Magdalen Bridge at 6am to hear the college choir sing the Latin psalm from the top of the tower, the traditional start of Oxford’s May morning celebrations.

Some had got up early to join in the merriment, but others had been up all night.

The Oxford Mail reported: “Bleary-eyed all-night partygoers stumbled out into the grey dawn for another dose of May madness. Red-trousered punk rockers, long-haired hippies in Afghan coats and undergraduates in whites and boaters swelled the crowd.

“A jovial policeman declared the attendance average and said he was glad it was warm.

“Despite threats by 150 anti-nuclear campaigners to fall flat on the ground to show the effects of a nuclear explosion, the nearest anyone got to bombs was a couple of harsh bangs, which shocked a few but injured no-one.

“The dancers danced and the singers sang, but the day undoubtedly went to the bells of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, which overcame all but the stoutest of modern amplifiers and reduced most musical acts to mime.”

After the festivities at Magdalen Bridge, many spectators adjourned to the King’s Arms in Holywell which, as usual, did a roaring trade serving early morning pints.

A huge number of empty boxes of Champagne piled outside Oddbins’ off-licence in High Street told the story of the night before.

A short while after the picture above was taken, the crowds dispersed, milk floats and early buses began to push their way along High Street and the city centre returned to normal.