THE biggest gathering of vikings is set to des­cend on the west coast.

The Largs Viking Festival kicks off on Saturday and runs until September 7, featuring a seafront Viking village, parades and the re-enactment of the Battle of Largs.

Also on the programme are Party at the Pencil, the burning of a Viking longship and a spectacular fireworks display.

Other highlights include the Parachute Regiments Freefall 'Red Devils' Team, an aerobatic display of vintage planes and a torchlight parade with German fire dancers.

International participants, travelling from Germany, Sweden, Norway and Ireland, will inhabit the living Viking Village on the Promenade, complete with sights, sounds and smells of the time.

The encampment will be populated by everyday 13th Century Viking folk, all dressed in traditional ­Viking costumes giving a realistic insight into the Viking ­lifestyle and beliefs, their homes, crafts and ships, their homeland and why they came to Scotland.

The Glasgow Vikings will also be setting up a separate, weekends only, Viking Village at Kelburn Estate, with authentic Viking cooking, blacksmith skills, games, ­archery and re-enactment skirmishes.

For info, visit www.largs vikingfestival.com or call the Largs Information ­Bureau on 01475 676182.