A group of Vikings made an appearance in Lowestoft – but there was no cause for alarm for onlookers as the invaders were delivering a special message.

Eastern Daily Press: Paper hands are hung outside the library in Lowestoft to deliver a message to Suffolk County Council: “Hands off our Record Office”. Picture: SOROPaper hands are hung outside the library in Lowestoft to deliver a message to Suffolk County Council: “Hands off our Record Office”. Picture: SORO (Image: Archant)

The marauding viking invaders were members of the Save Our Record Office (SORO) campaign group, who had a message for Suffolk County Council: 'Hands off our Record Office'.

The group – which was set up in an attempt to stop the closure of the Lowestoft Record Office, which was announced earlier this year – is campaigning to prevent the county council from transferring archives to the £20m heritage centre in Ipswich called The Hold.

Eastern Daily Press: Paper hands are hung outside the library in Lowestoft to deliver a message to Suffolk County Council: “Hands off our Record Office”. Picture: SOROPaper hands are hung outside the library in Lowestoft to deliver a message to Suffolk County Council: “Hands off our Record Office”. Picture: SORO (Image: Archant)

Group chairman Bob Collis said they were ramping up their campaign after the county council launched an online consultation. An independent community consultation is running concurrently with the council consultation and SORO will be making the results public next month.

Another SORO group initiative has seen people queueing to sign and colour in paper hands, which are being hung outside Lowestoft library.

Mr Collis said: 'We intend to place a ring around the library building at the end of it, a visible show of hands to send a message to SCC - hands off!'

The county council Lowestoft Record Office consultation is open until 11.59pm on Thursday, November 1.