A 600-year-old tradition to celebrate the beginning of the old agricultural year is set to take place next week.

Durham Plough Sunday, which takes place on January 13, will see the city filled with music, morris and sword dancing.

Plough Sunday, which was revived in Durham several years ago, was first recorded in the city in 1413, making it the oldest event of its kind in England.

BLESSED: A plough was pulled from Durham Market Place to Durham Cathedral and blessed by the Dean of Durham to welcome the start of the agricultural year Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT BLESSED: A plough was pulled from Durham Market Place to Durham Cathedral and blessed by the Dean of Durham to welcome the start of the agricultural year Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The plough being blessed at a service in Durham Cathedral last year

The celebrations historically revolve around the drawing of a plough around the community to mark the start of the agricultural year.

The event gained a carnival atmosphere as it marked the return to work for agricultural workers, but died out after the 19th century.

The plough will be hauled by “plough stots” from the Market Place to Durham Cathedral, where they will be met by Dean Andrew Tremlett, who will recreate the paying of the ploughman, first mentioned in accounts of the event in 1413, when the stots were presented with four coins.

The Dean of Durham on last year's Plough Sunday

The plough will then be returned to the Market Place for more music and dancing.

Benfieldside and Durham Rams Morris and Sword Men are organising the event and will be joined by Darlington Mummers to perform the Carlton-le-Moorland Plough play.

Festivities start at about 12.30pm and the plough will be taken to the cathedral at 1.45pm.