IF on a visit to a York pub you're confronted by a group of leaping men brandishing blades and stamping heartily on the floor, don't be afraid.

They are probably members of the city's "rapper" dancer group who can sometimes be seen plying their hobby at the Black Swan in Peasholme Green.

The group are riding high after their success at the Dancing England Rapper Tournament, which they won for the third consecutive year a few months ago.

Drinkers can catch them practising each week at The First Hussar, North Street, or touring at The Last Drop Inn, Three-legged Mare or The Ackhorne.

Sharp-eyed readers will have noticed that all five pubs are linked by their hardwood floors which accentuate the sound of the energetic stepping.

Kevern Stafford works for Norwich Union by day, but by night he dons his special costume and takes to the floor.

He said: "Initially when we go into pubs people are a bit apprehensive, but usually we win them over. It's quite a physical dance and you get a great impact when it is in a confined space.

"It's a traditional dance started by miners in the North East. It's different to Morris dancing with which people often confuse it because it is so fast."

For the record, Bar Talk's sources tell us that rapper dancing developed in the 1800s by miners in Northumberland and County Durham.

They use a short two-handled tool with a flexible steel blade that was used to scrape the sweat and coal dust off pit ponies' backs. Come to think of it, they might come in handy to ward off tipsy hecklers...

Updated: 08:33 Saturday, May 22, 2004