Vikings raid York in honour of city's heritage

Bands of marauding Vikings returned to York this weekend for the Jorvik Viking Festival, marching through the cobbled streets and recreating battles beneath Clifford's Tower.

Celebrating the city's Jorvik Viking Centre's opening in 1984, thousands of people came to the city to feast, drink, celebrate and fight.

Festival organiser Jay Commins said the event brought 45,000 people to the city and grows every year.

"It is fantastic for a tourism city, but it also brings the spirit of the Vikings to life. We tell the story of the Vikings at Jorvik Viking Centre, but this brings it to a bigger scale," he said.

"This year all our events have been booked out weeks ahead, which is brilliant news for tourism at this time," Commins added.

"It's part of our heritage. It runs through our DNA. The Vikings are here to stay and it's fantastic to see them brought back to life. Who knows what next year will hold."

Run by York Archeology, the festival happens from February 16 to 22 and includes mead tasting, barbaric battles for kids and beserker workshops.

It is inspired by 10th Century February festivals known as Jolablot, an Old Norse term for a midwinter festival or sacrifice.

Eldsgrim, also known as Matt Graham, is a Viking reenactor at Jorvik and took part in the procession along Coppergate and in battle displays.

He said it was a different experience to working in the museum, but "so rewarding and so fulfilling".

"There's been things both day and night for the entire week," he said.

"The history is well worth remembering, it's a key part of our history – all about how the people lived and how we came together."

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.