ASPIRING young super sleuths will be given the chance to try their hand at solving a murder or two this summer as a popular murder-mystery event returns for a second airing.

The Herald is joining forces with the Youth Umbrella Group, Whitehill police, Hampshire ChildrenÕs and Families Forum, Whitehill Town Council, Mill Chase Community School, Mill Chase Leisure Centre and the Forest Shopping Centre for the special challenge.

Script writing is currently underway for the event, which will be held over four days, and hopes are high that around 250 youngsters will put on their detective hats for the occasion.

Sergeant Rick Davidson, of Whitehill police, who was the brainchild of this and the last murder-mystery is looking forward to it.

ÒWe are going to have the the use of the whole of the Forest Shopping Centre. The town council will be involved as well as Mill Chase School and Mill Chase Leisure Centre,Ó said Sgnt Davidson.

ÒIt is hoped that the Army and the fire service will have some input. We are basically hoping for somewhere in the region of 240 young people who will be tasked with solving the murder over four days.

ÒThis has come about because it was so successful last time and we have been hammered to do it again. I suspect if people leave it to registration day we are going to have more than 240 because we are not just opening it up to Bordon youngsters. If they get here, they can take part.

ÒLast time we only had 11 to 16-year-olds taking part and that will be the same this time but we are hoping to also have mini clues for younger kids.Ó

It is five years since the last murder-mystery was held in the town, which attracted more than 150 youngsters who tried to guess whodunnit!

Tony Philpott, headteacher of Mill Chase Community School, was the first ÒvictimÓ when he was found dead in his car, and this triggered off a Òkiller weekÓ in the town.

Neil Ockenden, then town mayor, was next on the hit list, closely followed by Forest Centre trader Tony Keats.

However budding Sherlock Holmes were thrown off the scent when then mayoress Elizabeth Ockenden was ÒkilledÓ by youth worker Mel White.

There was a long list of suspects including town crier Steve White and Herald ÒreporterÓ Nicky Birch, who was first on the scene of Tony PhilpottÕs ÒmurderÓ.

The ÒkillerÓ was finally unmasked at Mill Chase School as none other than town clerk Linda Tiley.

Details of how to ÒregisterÓ for this yearÕs murder-mystery will appear in The Herald.