THE GHOST of a little girl and a king turned to stone have inspired a haunting play set for the twilight zone. When the sun starts to sink - an audience will be gripped by the premiere of Summer Solstice at the mysterious Rollright Stones.

Local writer Marie-Annick Jubé has created a supernatural outdoor performance for June 13.

It will be the climax of an enchanting afternoon of ancient crafts, story-telling and astronomy at the evocative site on the Oxfordshire and Warwickshire border, near Chipping Norton.

It is in aid of the Rollright Trust, caretakers of the popular heritage site and also aims to support local youth theatre.

The atmospheric weathered, limestone forms span nearly 2,000 years of Neolithic and Bronze Age development. Legend has it that a witch petrified a monarch and his courtiers.

Silently standing testimony to the dreadful deed is the King’s Men stone circle, the Whispering Knights burial chamber and the single King Stone.

But intuitive Marie-Annick took the terrifying tale a step further: “I’ve always been aware of earth-bound spirits. “Countless people had either seen or sensed a little girl by the King’s Men.

"Yet there was no history about her.

"But I was also led by another part of the legend and that completed my story.

"It is said no-one can count the same number of stones three times in a row and that invoked a feeling of mystery – my favourite genre.

"There is a dark and light side to this.

"One saying is that if you succeed in your count it will bring you bad luck, the other is that your wish will be granted.

"I chose the light side as my emotional gut feeling was to bring back peace, harmony and healing to the site which has been connected to black magic goings-on and suffered vandalism in the past.”

The story follows the fate of an archetypal family visiting the site at summer solstice.

The father, down-to-earth builder Tim, is dismissive of myth and mystery.

His sensitive wife, Linda, is a psychic, and 19-year-old daughter, Roxy, is an insecure dreamer.

She’s seeking an answer from the Whispering Knights as to whom she will marry.

The three characters, each with very different agendas, encounter a world conjuring up a ghost, fairies and knights, played by an amateur community cast.

Following the finale – a strict secret – the characters all link hands and encourage spectators to follow suit.

“I’d like the audience to really feel part of the play and not outsiders,” said Marie-Annick, also a volunteer usher at Chipping Norton Theatre.

“Linking hands shows we’re embracing the land, history and heritage which are inter-connected.”

The whole event, Summer Stones and Ancient Magic, begins at 2.30pm.

Demonstrations of ancient country crafts include bodging, weaving, spoon carving, besom-making and dowsing. Chipping Norton Amateur Astronomy Group, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will be on-site with telescopes to help people learn about the heavens through sun and stargazing.

Tickets are available from www.summer-solstice.uk and Chipping Norton Theatre box office on 01608 642350.