Members of the village's Plough Stots group fear the legislation could mean the axe for their traditional dances, which first began 1,200 years ago.

And Whitby MP Robert Goodwill, who believes traditional sword dancing may have been left out of exemptions to the new law in error, is to take up the fight in Parliament.

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Goathland Plough Stots use ceremonial long swords to perform regularly in the area at a number of events including Whitby Folk Week in August as well as the Goathland Plough Stots day of dance in January.

The tradition dates back 1,200 years and John Atkinson, a Plough Stots member said: "Sword dancing is a heritage of our village dating back to when the Vikings inhabited the north of England.

"The new law is trying to ban this long-standing, extremely popular tradition, stating our dance sword and sticks can be used as weapons.

"In over 40 years of dancing I have never seen an accident or an act of violence with the swords. We have collected thousands of pounds for charities at our dances, as have many other teams."

More than 4,000 people have signed an online petition calling for an exemption.

The Plough Stots team is one of only a few left in the country and regularly performs at national and international events, most recently at the 5th International Sword Spectacular in York in May.

Plough Stots secretary Keith Thompson believes that sword dancing is not included in the ban, but says the situation is unclear.

He said: "There's a lot of confusion and ambiguity surrounding it but until it's resolved we could be liable to prosecution and even five years in jail over it.

"I have contacted Mr Goodwill to sort it out and get the question answered as to where we stand in it."

Mr Goodwill said he intends to table a Parliamentary question calling for clarification about an exemption for sword dancing.

He told the Gazette: "It comes under the Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006 where there are specific exemptions for activities like sword dancing when they are part of historic re-enactments or sporting events.

"I think the Government has made an error in omitting sword dancing from the exemptions and although I think it's highly unlikely the police would arrest anyone for it there could be a technical problem over insurance."

The longsword dance was revived in Goathland in the 18th century and again in the early 1920s. It was practised every year thereafter, except during the Second World War.

Mike Atkinson MBE, president at Goathland, said : "I cannot stress how much of a shame it would be to lose the right to perform the traditional dance dating back to the early 18th century.

"Our swords used for dancing are blunt, these are not sharp or honed fighting weapons."

A Government consultation on the plans ended on May 28 – a response is expected in August.