RUDE and riotous stories written more than 600 years ago are taking to the woodland stage of Lancaster's Williamson Park this summer.

Following on the trail blazed by previous plays in the park, The Dukes is stepping back to the days of Geoffrey Chaucer for its latest al-fresco production.

Adapted by Gareth Machin, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales will be played out in the shadow of Ashton Memorial from Friday, July 2 to Saturday, August 7.

Celebrating the lives of travellers, the production brings with it larger-than-life characters bursting with stories of true love, death, adultery, flattery and magic.

The play begins at Harry Bailey's Tabard Inn, where a group of travellers gather ahead of their journey. For some amusement on their pilgrimage, they all agree to tell a story.

The dark, wooded pathways and the broad avenues of Williamson Park serve as the highways and by-ways of their journey to Canterbury.

Generations later, the stories are still as rude, irreverent and colourful as they were way back then. And they promise to have audiences rolling in the park's grassy aisles.

Directed by Ian Hastings, the production has been designed by Emily Couper, who created the scenes for last year's Grimm Tales, while Keith Morris has created original music for it.

For more details and to book tickets, call 01524-598500 or book online at www.dukes-lancaster.org