Most of us know Robin Hood and his Merry Men as heroes - loved by the locals for their honesty, bravery and generosity.

But in the eyes of the law, they were criminals. And they knew it. That's why they lived in the depths of Sherwood Forest, well hidden from the king and his men. But Robin - or Robert of Locksley, as he was known back then - had never intended to do harm. It all began when the 18-yearold Robin decided to take part in a shooting match, hosted by the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Like most 18-year-olds, Robin was a cocksure young man. So when a group of drunken foresters confronted him on his way to the contest, he refused to be made a fool of. "I'll bet you can't shoot that deer over yonder," the men taunted. "And I'll bet I can," said an angry Robin, eager to prove his archery skills. Sure enough, he killed the deer first time. Humiliated and enraged, the forester drew his bow and shot at Robin through an alcoholic daze. Needless to say, he missed. But by now Robin was in defence of his life. He took a second perfect shot, this time at the forester. In the space of a few heated moments, Robin had gone from talented young archer to murderer.

From that day on, he was forced to hide amongst the leafy clearings of Sherwood Forest, where his noble fight for the rights of poor people made him a legend the world over.

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