ONE of the region's enduring legends will be replayed next weekend when the Drummer Boy goes marching once again.

Nine-year-old Richmond schoolboy Sam Rawson will take the role of the tragic youngster who disappeared underground.

The public will be able to follow him as he follows the route supposedly taken beneath Richmond by his 18th Century counterpart.

The annual walk follows the path of the drummer boy who was sent, beating his drum, along a newly-discovered underground tunnel.

Soldiers followed his drum beats above ground to see if the tunnel went, as they thought, from Richmond Castle to Easby Abbey.

But part way to the abbey, the drumming suddenly stopped and the boy was never seen again.

Now the spot where the beat stopped is marked by the Drummer Boy Stone, which on Sunday will be one of the places at which the walkers will pause to hear details of the story.

The walk will start at 3pm and all those who complete the two-and-a-half-mile route will be presented with certificates by the Mayor of Richmond, Stuart Parsons.

The event is organised by staff at the Green Howards Regimental Museum, in Richmond, and curator Roger Chapman said: "This now-traditional walk is a very enjoyable occasion for children and adults, with the chance to learn more about the legend of Richmond's famous Drummer Boy. We hope that we will be blessed with fine weather, and that lots of people will join Sam on his walk."