(Image: Desmond Consitt)
There is a real-life sword in the stone in County Durham, but its story is rather different from the legend of King Arthur and Excalibur.
Hidden on a nature trail near Seaham, the unusual attraction has become a quirky local landmark.
For around three years, the sword remained something of a mystery to many people who walked the trail, with its unusual appearance naturally prompting comparisons with one of Britain's most famous myths.
The truth is considerably more modern, but no less interesting.
The sword was created by former miner Desmond Consitt, who wanted to bring a little fantasy and imagination to the outdoor space.
(Image: Desmond Consitt)
Consitt, who is trained as a dry stone waller, made the sword from steel and wood, using a golf ball to help form part of its handle.
The stone itself was moved roughly 200 metres to its present position, hidden near Seaham, while the sword was secured into it using hot lead.
The attraction is connected to Greenscape Community Garden Association, a local community project focused on young people, gardening, wildlife and the outdoors.
Consitt previously said that the idea was partly inspired by childhood memories of playing outside and pretending to be knights, and he wanted children visiting the site to use their imaginations.
That connection to childhood fantasy inevitably brings the legend of King Arthur to mind.
In Arthurian legend, a sword embedded in a stone or anvil could only be drawn by the rightful king, proving Arthur's claim to the throne.
The famous story is much older than modern films and books, with the sword-in-the-stone motif appearing in medieval Arthurian literature.
The County Durham sword is a modern community creation, deliberately designed to look like something from a fantasy story.
Its connection with Arthur is therefore one of imagination rather than history.
That has not stopped the sword from becoming an intriguing destination for people interested in unusual places in County Durham.
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The previously little-known feature went on to become a local talking point, with visitors trying to discover exactly where the mysterious sword could be found.
For that reason, we are keeping its exact location under wraps to preserve its appeal for walkers to discover themselves.
For anyone fascinated by local legends, hidden landmarks and unusual things to see around the North East, this modern-day sword in the stone offers a twist on one of Britain's most enduring tales - if you can find it.
And unlike Arthur's legendary blade, this one has a very real maker, a very real stone and a story rooted firmly in the local community.