THE hills will be alive with the sound of music later this month when ten troupes of Morris dancers visit the Yorkshire Dales.

Richmond on Swale Morris Men host the 289th meeting of the Morris Ring of England on the weekend of May 11 and 12.

Sides from as far afield as the Isle of Wight and Whitley Bay will dance their way through Wensleydale, Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, joining together for a massed display in Reeth on the Saturday lunchtime with a parade to Richmond market place the following day.

Performances on Saturday, May 11 take place at 10.30am in Bainbridge, Gunnerside and Middleham; 11.20am in Askrigg, Low Row and Leyburn; and 3pm in Low Row, Askrigg and Langthwaite.

The sides then link up for a massed display on the green in Reeth between 12.30pm and 2.30pm, involving around 120 musicians and dancers.

On Sunday, May 12, the sides will perform in Richmond at St Francis' Church on the town's Newbiggin after morning service at around 10.50am with a parade to Finkle Street and the Market Place setting off at around 11.20am.

A public display on Richmond's market square is then expected to last until around 12.30pm.