AN ancient tradition dating back centuries will be celebrated in style at a gathering of countries later this month.

The European Night and Tower Watchmen's annual three-day get-together will be held in Ripon, North Yorkshire, from Thursday, May 20.

As one of the patrons of the event, the Black Sheep Brewery, in Masham, is already brewing the beer that will help the celebrations go with a swing.

More than 70 night and tower watchmen from 11 European countries will be arriving in the city for the annual meeting of their guild.

Their aim is to promote and preserve the ancient customs of the watchmen, which began primarily with the formation of the Hanseatic League, in 1241, when their duties sometimes involved setting a curfew.

But some of the customs date back further, with Ripon the oldest, where the tradition originated in 886.

The city's preent-day hornblower, Alan Oliver, said: "Ripon is considered by the guild to be the birthplace of the tradition. The guild's first visit to Ripon was in 1992 and we are delighted they have chosen to come again so soon.

"This will be a wonderful spectacle for both tourists and residents, and we hope they will join in welcoming the members of the guild."

The Ripon meeting will be important as the founding president Walter Kienel, watchman of Rodach, in Germany, is to retire and another member must be chosen to succeed him.

A vacancy must also be filled in Ripon, as Mr Oliver is to step down as Ripon Hornblower at the end of this month.

Mr Oliver has dutifully carried out the ancient tradition of setting the watch in Ripon for more than 20 years.

At 9pm every night of the year, he sets the watch by sounding his horn at each corner of the obelisk in Ripon's Market Place.