The legend of the Lambton Worm is a traditional North East folktale connected to the River Wear and the Lambton family of County Durham.
The story is believed to date back to the medieval period and was passed down through generations as an oral legend. It was later written down and popularised in the 19th century, when Victorian writers and musicians helped preserve many regional folk tales.
Today, it remains one of the North East’s most famous legends.