It has been confirmed today that the police took film footage of Padstow's 'Darkie Days' on Boxing day and have submitted it to the Crown Prosecution Service. On Darkie Days the local people in Padstow, as in so many other places across the UK and beyond, black up and go Guising. Quite a bit of money is raised for local charities and everyone has a good day out. It is very low key, when compared to May Day, and has been going on for hundreds of years. Apparantley it is to do with 'public disorder'. Two or three years ago Bernie Grant MP tried to get it stopped as he considered 'blacking up' was racist. It was pointed out to him that in many African countries people 'white up' to go guising or its equivalent. If this is upheld then the logical next step is that any blacked face dancer, mummer or guiser is also breaking the law. It could be the end of Molly teams, Bacup Coconut Dancers (whose dances are said to have their roots in Cornwall) and Border Morris. So, watch this space. As the story unfolds we'll keep you posted on its progress.