STUDENTS from Richmond School will play a major role in the town's summer festival this weekend.

Youngsters will perform in a number of events between Friday and Sunday.

An open-air performance of the school's version of A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed in the Friary Gardens on the festival's opening night and is followed by a repeat performance on Sunday.

The school's steel pan band, Pandemonium, will also play in the Friary Gardens on Sunday afternoon, along with the more traditional Richmond School Wind Band. The festival will be opened by Mayor Stuart Parsons at Richmond Castle at 9am on Friday.

The weekend also includes the town's annual Sheep on Show competition, which challenges shoppers to spot wooden templates of sheep put up around the town - all designed around the theme Sheep of the World.

After a winner is chosen the sheep will be auctioned on Sunday, the final day of the festival, and the proceeds will be given to Richmond Primary School to improve music, drama and sports.

Coun Parsons, who introduced Sheep on Show two years ago, said: "I am delighted so many people want to be involved in this year's festival through the Sheep on Show exhibition, all the competitions, music events and the family fun events.

"Opening up the festival to the whole district can only increase its success in bringing the community together for a weekend of drama, music and family fun."

There will also be an art exhibition, a family It's a Knockout tournament hosted by Richmond Scouts, a marching bands parade and the annual Green Howards Yorkshire Sports Day.

Festival programmes and entry forms for the Sheep on Show competition are available from the Richmond Tourist Information Centre, Ken Warne Grocers and Richmond Library.