Warriors and the clergy are to make their peace as a Scottish island community celebrates its Viking heritage.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Elect Mario Conti and the Episcopal Bishop of Aberdeen, Bruce Cameron, are attending the Up Helly Aa fire festival on Shetland - despite its pagan origins.

The inhabitants of Lerwick dress in full Norse costume for the event and celebrate by burning a Viking galley.

Archbishop Mario Conti: "Share celebrations"

The annual festival, which is held on the last Tuesday of January, draws visitors from across the world to experience a day and night of revelry.

Up Helly Aa is descended from the ancient festival of yule, which the Vikings held to celebrate the rebirth of the sun.

Celebrations began in the morning when a 10ft high proclamation, known as the Bill, was placed at the Market Cross in the centre of Lerwick.

Blazing torches

Chief Viking Bruce Leask - known as the Guizer Jarl - and his squad of 50 men escorted a 30ft galley through the town to the harbour.

Then the people tour 11 halls to be entertained in extravagant style.

Despite recent attempts by the local council to scrap the party, the next day will be a public holiday to allow everybody time to recover.

The main part of the festival begins after dark when about 900 men bearing blazing torches gather for a procession through the streets.

Chief Viking Bruce Leask will lead a squad

At the end of their march the participants fling their torches into the longship and sing traditional songs as they watch it disappear in flames.

Shetland's villages hold their own fire festivals in the first months of every year.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Elect Mario Conti said: "It's a great festival.

"We are called so often to share people's griefs and sorrows, it is good to have an opportunity to share their celebrations and their festivities."