Vikings once struck terror into the hearts of the inhabitants of our shores, but their return to north Norfolk will be very much welcomed.

Plans have been drawn up to stage Sheringham's Scira Viking Festival - which culminates in the burning of a model longship - on April 9 in 2022.

Eastern Daily Press: Sheringham Scira Viking Festival founder Colin Seal, with one of the longboats used for a past festivalSheringham Scira Viking Festival founder Colin Seal, with one of the longboats used for a past festival (Image: Archant)

Colin Seal is founder and one of the volunteer organisers of the event which was cancelled this year due to Covid, and usually takes place earlier in the year.

But the event's committee agreed to postpone it to the Easter break for next year.

Mr Seal said: "When I started it I always insisted we do it in February - it's something to bring a bit of brightness back.

"But with these Covid times we have to do the best we can with the limitations that are there.

Eastern Daily Press: Part of the fun at a past Sheringham Scira Viking Festival finale.Part of the fun at a past Sheringham Scira Viking Festival finale. (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Flame torch-wielding warriors on the march at a Sheringham's Scira Viking Festival finale. The event is set to return in April 2022.Flame torch-wielding warriors on the march at a Sheringham's Scira Viking Festival finale. The event is set to return in April 2022. (Image: Archant)

"We didn't want to cancel it again, so we decided to move it to April and we're going to have a different format.

"We're going to have the Viking battles and the village put onto Beeston Common, and the parade will just be the Vikings with their flaming torches."

In the past, the Vikings have walked with the longship down to the beach, where it is set ablaze in front of thousands of onlookers.

Mr Seal said: "We're going to get it into position beforehand, and if the tides are coming up we can put it on a special stand so we can still set light to it and it will look amazing."

Mr Seal said there would be other changes to make the festival "safer and more sustainable", including not burning the shields that usually line the sides of the longboat.

The boat to be used at this festival is 34ft long, and was made by local carpenter Brian Howe, who Mr Seal said "kept wanting to build them bigger each year".

The festival was first held in 2013, intended by Mr Seal to be "a celebration of our Viking heritage".

Sheringham's name evolved from old Norse and is thought to mean 'The home of Scira's people' - Scira is thought to have been a Viking warlord.