A group of Vikings are planning to launch an attack on Thurso this weekend but before the town's residents flee in terror, it's just for fun!

As part of the annual Thurso Gala Week a squad of 30 Shetlanders are visiting the town to re-enact a version of their `Up-Helly-Aa' celebrations.

Thurso Town Improvements Association - a group dedicated to the `civic' health of the town - has invited the group to perform a version of the Viking Yarl procession at the Gala parade on Saturday (3rd August), culminating in the burning of a replica Viking longship.

The Viking longship to be torched by the band of Hagar the Horrible look-a-likes has been built by a group of engineering apprentices at the Dounreay Nuclear Plant.

Thurso Town Improvements Association treasurer, Roger Saxon said: "Thurso Gala Week is always a real focus for the town with everyone in the community getting involved.  We are delighted this year to be able to add a touch of `Up-Helly-Aa' to the proceedings to highlight our links with Viking heritage."

To help the Thurso Town Improvement Association meet the cost of transporting the visiting Vikings to Thurso, Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) has awarded the organisation a Sports and Arts grant worth £1,730.

Eann Sinclair, CASE's head of projects, said: "It seems very appropriate that Thurso Gala recognises the town's Viking roots in this spectacular way. We were delighted to be able to help celebrate Thurso's origins as the town on `Thor's River' and we hope it will spark renewed local interest in our Norse heritage."