Two villages in west Dorset are commemorating 1,000 years since their founding with Viking re-enactments.

The re-enactment will take place during the millennial celebrations for Portesham and Abbotsbury between Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4, a weekend promising fun, food, drink and history for all the family.

In the year 1016, Viking leader King Canute became ruler over England, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Eight years later, the king gave a parcel of land to his faithful servant, Orc, which is where Abbotsbury now sits. A committed and wealthy Christian, Orc donated much of his land and money to building a large Abbey there, the ruins of which still stand.

As part of the celebration of Canute’s gift to Orc, Friends of St Nicholas Church have planned a re-enactment battle between the Viking invaders and the Anglo-Saxons, who were the established residents of the region at the time.

The battle will take place around the ruins of the old Abbey buildings at the Great Tithe Barn, built in 1200AD, to soak in 1,000 years of history.

The weekend will also feature stalls selling artisan crafts, mead, craft beer, and iron and stone garden ware.

Two re-enactment performances will take place on both days, at 10am and 5pm. Entry to the event is £10 for adults, £5 for children aged between five to 15.

A family ticket of two adults and three children is also available for £25. Tickets are available at the gate on the day by Abbey Farm in Abbotsbury, or online at https://shorturl.at/PG3Ks