FOLLOWING the success of last year’s event, The Anderton Boat Lift is to host another free, family-friendly, Viking Invasion weekend.

Being held on Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, between 10am and 3.30pm, the event will see the grounds of the Boat Lift transformed into a Viking settlement with free displays and demonstrations.

There is no cost to enter the site, and the event is being staged by Y Ddraig Warriors of Stoke-on-Trent, with each day ending with a ‘live’ battle.

Y Ddraig Warriors are a Viking re-enactment group, recreating the life, society and warfare of a Viking longship crew, operating in the Irish Sea in the 10th century.

Visitors are encouraged to look around Y Ddraig’s (the dragons) living history exhibition and ask questions and try out their armour and equipment.

Y Ddraig will be putting on arena combat displays throughout the day, and will also be training its youngest warriors, which all children are welcome to join in with. For the youngest visitors there will also be a free craft activity.

Warwick Kinrade, Jarl of the Y Ddraig Warriors re-enactment group, said: “We are delighted to be coming to the Anderton Boat Lift again as last year’s event was a tremendous success and well attended.

“The Vikings had a strong connection with Cheshire and particularly the Wirral where they settled after repeated raids. All over the region there are Viking place names and Viking archaeological finds.

“Recent DNA tests show Viking offspring are still going strong in the region, and we’re hoping this free event will attract those who want to find out more about how the Vikings of their distant past.

“The displays and demonstrations, given by people dressed in traditional Viking clothes and with replica weapons, really bring to life what it was like to be a Viking.

“It promises to be a lively and engaging weekend for all the family.”