Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start

Re-enactment group members watch the action as they wait for their turn in the arena at Sheringham Viking Festival. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

The event, which is hosted by the town's carnival committee, kicked off with combat demonstrations in the town centre and on the beach by Norfolk-based re-enactment groups Wuffa and Dragon Shield, who performed together for the first time.

The fearsome fighters drew large crowds as they staged a choreographed battle telling the tale of a Viking lord desperately trying to recruit more troops to ward off an attack by marauding Danes.

Re-enactment group members watch the action as they wait for their turn in the arena at Sheringham Viking Festival. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Dragon Shield founder David Holman, from Acle, said the Great Yarmouth-based group was delighted to have been asked to attend the festival.

He added: 'We are all very pleased to be here, it is our first time at the festival, our first time working with Wuffa and, with the boat-burning, it's a really exciting event.'

Re-enactment group members battle it out in combat displays on Lifeboat Plain as Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Graham 'Bones' Pointer, who has been a member of Gorleston-based group Wuffa since 2001, was looking forward to the torchlit procession and boat-burning on the beach.

He said: 'The festival highlights the rich history and culture of East Anglia and I absolutely love coming here; there's a wonderful atmosphere and the number of people who turn out to cheer us on is just incredible.'

Re-enactment group members battle it out in combat displays on Lifeboat Plain as Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Re-enactment group members battle it out in combat displays on Lifeboat Plain as Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Re-enactment group members battle it out in combat displays on Lifeboat Plain as Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Sheringham Viking Festival. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Re-enactment group members battle it out in combat displays on Lifeboat Plain as Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Re-enactment group members battle it out in combat displays on Lifeboat Plain as Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Re-enactment group members battle it out in combat displays on Lifeboat Plain as Sheringham Viking Festival gets off to a spectacular start. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)