Viking times are being brought back to life with creative sessions in Whitehaven.

The Beacon museum is using this week’s half-term holidays to host a series of fun workshops, in which youngsters and their families are enjoying making shields, completing an adventure trail and meeting a real-life Viking.

During yesterday’s session, storyteller Steve Wharton – aka Skald – held court with stories and songs of the infamous Murder of Hakkon.

The museum is hosting the events to coincide with its Norse Hoard treasure exhibition, which is now open and is given an official launch on Saturday.

Included in the exhibition are 20 silver artefacts unearthed by local enthusiasts Justin Bell and Daniel Boakes in Beckermet in 2014.

Mr Bell called their 16 trading ingots and four rings “the find of a lifetime”.

All of the items were verified as being of Norse origin, and evidence suggests they could have been brought to Cumbria from as far away as Russia.

The hoard was given “treasure” status in 2015.

At tomorrow’s launch at 12.30pm, Mr Bell and Mr Boakes will give a presentation, along with a band of merciless Vikings.

The craft sessions continue today (Friday) between 11am and 4pm, and are suitable for those aged three to 12. This evening at 7pm, there is a Norse Sagas Murder Mystery Evening, also led by Mr Wharton, in the museum’s special Viking longhouse.

The Beacon’s development manager, Alan Irwin, said: “The Norse treasure find has been really exciting for West Cumbria, and these events that celebrate the discovery are going to be something entirely new for kids and adults alike.

“I would urge both the young and not so young to come down for a day, meet a Viking in his longhouse, and see into our cultural past in a new way.”

For more information, visit www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk or call 01946 592302.