Sheringham Viking Festival drew to a spectacular close, with a torchlit parade through the town followed by the burning of a longboat on the seashore.

Eastern Daily Press: Sheringham Viking Festival boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLSheringham Viking Festival boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Thousands turned out to watch as fire eaters and jugglers led flame torch-carrying warriors from re-enactment groups Wuffa, Ordgar and Dragon Shields to the beach, where crowds watched in awe as a team of re-enactors stoked the longboat funeral pyre of a Viking leader, before placing his 'body' on board and setting the craft aflame.

The ceremonial burning on the central beach marked the end of what has been hailed the most Viking successful festival yet.

Eastern Daily Press: Young re-enactment group members Alicia and Ruby watch the boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLYoung re-enactment group members Alicia and Ruby watch the boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Thanking all those involved, carnival chairman Stuart McClean said: 'The weather has been magnificent, it has been an absolutely wonderful event for the town and I don't think I've ever seen so many people on the prom and the beach.'

North Norfolk District Council chairman Richard Shepherd, who carried a torch in the parade, added: 'I think the festival will get bigger without a doubt, it's a huge family event, parents and kids love it and it really puts Sheringham on the map.'

Eastern Daily Press: Young 'Vikings' tucking into fish and chips on the prom. Photo: KAREN BETHELLYoung 'Vikings' tucking into fish and chips on the prom. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Vikings on parade at Sheringham. Photo: KAREN BETHELLVikings on parade at Sheringham. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Flame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLFlame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Joining in the fun at Sheringham Viking Festival. Photo: KAREN BETHELLJoining in the fun at Sheringham Viking Festival. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLThe ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Sheringham Viking Festival parade. Photo: KAREN BETHELLSheringham Viking Festival parade. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Re-enactors watch the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLRe-enactors watch the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The Viking longboat goes up in flames. Photo: KAREN BETHELLThe Viking longboat goes up in flames. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Flame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLFlame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Re-enactors carrying the 'body' of a Viking leader to the longboat funeral pyre. Photo: KAREN BETHELLRe-enactors carrying the 'body' of a Viking leader to the longboat funeral pyre. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Flame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLFlame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Flame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLFlame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The longboat on its way to the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLThe longboat on its way to the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Flame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLFlame torch-carrying Vikings get set for the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Town mayor Mark Hill at the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELLTown mayor Mark Hill at the ceremonial boat-burning on the beach. Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Oliver, Thomas and Edward Holbrook.Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Oliver, Thomas and Edward Holbrook.Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)

Eastern Daily Press: The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018The Sheringham Viking Festival 2018Byline: Sonya DuncanCopyright: Archant 2018 (Image: Archant 2017)