After 18 years, I'll finally lead the Vikings in Up Helly Aa

Lynden Nicolson has waited for almost two decades to lead the torch-lit procession at Shetland's world famous Up Helly Aa fire festival.

It is said to be the longest time someone has had to wait to take on the role of Guizer Jarl - the Viking chief - in the event's 145-year-old history.

On Tuesday evening hundreds of torch-bearers will follow the 58-year-old meter technician on a parade through the streets of Shetland's capital Lerwick to celebrate the islands' Norse heritage.

Europe's largest fire festival then comes to a spectacular climax when a hand-made replica of a Viking long ship is set ablaze.

Becoming Guizer Jarl allows the chief to assemble their own Viking group, locally known as "Jarl Squad".

It then gets to march at the head of the fiery procession on the last Tuesday in January every year.

To earn the honour, they have to be elected to the Up Helly Aa Committee, a body of volunteers which organises and runs the festival, and serve on it for 16 years.

Lynden had to wait two extra years for his turn because some of the past events had been cancelled during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This is the longest wait in the festival's 145-year-old history, and, incidentally, the father-of-two is also the oldest serving Guizer Jarl ever.

"Eighteen years is a long time for me, my family and my wife Paula, who has been brilliant through this," he said.

"The boys were children when I started and they are grown men leading my rank – that puts a perspective on how long it has been."

Lynden's Viking squad is made up of 55 adults and 10 children, with the youngest member being his six-year-old grandniece.

Joining him at the head of the ranks will be his two sons, Logan and Ryan.

The meter technician believes that family is crucial to Up Helly Aa.

He said: "It's about community, it's about family, it's what brings us together in the dark nights, it gives us something to do.

"The schools do things at Up Helly Aa time and the children get excited for it.

"Even if you are just drawing a shield or a galley, you are involved with Up Helly Aa, you come and watch it and you are involved.

"Everybody has got a part to play in the festival and that keeps it going," he added.

What Lynden is looking forward to the most is stepping out with his squad for the first time to show off the hand-crafted suits, shields and weapons they have secretly been working on for years.

The festivities begin with a morning procession through Lerwick before the squad tours schools, care homes and community centres, where they entertain people with singing and dancing.

When the darkness descends, they are joined by more than 40 other squads for the evening torch-lit procession.

It will culminate with the burning of a replica galley - a Viking long ship - that the Jarl Squad have built themselves throughout the year.

The celebrations will then move to the many community halls, where they will continue until the early hours of the next day.

You can watch the BBC's Up Helly Aa livestream on this page from 19:30 on Tuesday.