Marauding Vikings mingled with morris dancers and musicians at a thrilling two-day Millennium festival in Aldenham at the weekend.

Britain Through The Ages was hosted at Edge Grove School, in Radlett Road, on Saturday and Sunday as part of the parish's Millennium celebrations.

Highlights of the event included Viking and Saxon battle re-enactments, falconry displays, Irish dancing and live music until midnight on Saturday.

The festival was organised by Aldenham 2000, an eight-member committee which hopes to raise £1,000 to put towards community and wildlife projects within the parish.

Chairman Brian Hyde said: 'We had more than 1,000 people on each of the days and the two outstanding events were the falconry and the Irish dancing.'

Aldenham 2000 started planning Britain Through The Ages more than two years ago, and raised money to fund the festival by appealing for donations from parishioners.

All of the proceeds from ticket sales, which were being calculated this week, will go towards local projects, including the installation of new parish notice boards.

Saturday featured the Mackrill Skehill Irish Dancers, falconry and battle displays, and performances from musicians Ray Minhinnett and Roy Willox.

Visitors on Sunday were entertained by the Glentrew Pipe Band, the Stevenage Majorettes, a tug-of-war competition and an equestrian contest.

Charities and other organisations ran stalls at the event on both days; among them were Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Royal Anglian Territorial Army unit.

Mr Hyde, who put on a photograph exhibition at the festival, invited a number of former Aldenham residents back for the event, including a couple who now live in Australia.