LEDBURY will be alive to the sights and sounds of 'the morris' this weekend as the 600-year-old tradition arrives in the shape of 14 different teams.

Morris dancers from as far as Castleford and Devon will congregate at John Masefield School tonight (Friday) as they take part in the 291st meeting of the Morris Ring.

It is the third time in eight years that Ledbury's Silurian Border Morris Men have hosted the national ring, formed in 1934, and about 170 people are set to beguile townsfolk with dance displays and a procession. There will even be a Sunday church service at St Michael and All Angels', when one of the hymns will be The Lord of the Dance.

Keith Frances, squire to the Silurian Border Morris Men and also a town councillor, said the event was so popular with both the dancers and the public that some of the 200 member clubs of the ring have been forced to miss out.

"Teams have to apply to come to these gatherings and we've had more teams applying than we can accommodate," he said.

"The people in Ledbury also like it. The last time we hosted it, three years ago, several people commented on it. When they are all in costume some have horses heads on and people seem to appreciate that sort of thing. "They appreciate the whole contribution of those in the event."

The Morris Ring was formed to research, preserve and promote the male ritual dances of England. Those taking part during the weekend, including the Castleford Sword Dancers from West Yorkshire, the Bedford, Stafford and East Surrey Morris Men and Devon's Dartington Morris Men, will perform dances collected before the ring's inception in the 1930s.

Following a dance display at the Market House, from 10am to 10.30am tomorrow (Saturday), the teams will leave in groups by coach for display tours around Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

Venues include the Walwyn Arms in Much Marcle (10am), The Three Kings at Hanley Castle (2.45pm) and the Beauchamp Arms at Dymock (4.30pm).

They will return to the Market House for displays tomorrow (9.30pm) and a massed display on Sunday at 11.15am.