THE life and times of the other Harold of 1066 will be the subject of a talk to mark the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Harold Hardrada rose from the ranks of the elite Varangian Guard in Byzantium to become king of his native Norway. In 1066, he invaded England with the intention of seizing the crown but was defeated by Harold of England outside today’s village of Stamford Bridge.

On September 29, award-winning author Justin Hill, a former pupil of St Peter’s School in York, will give a talk on the man who died in the battle almost exactly 950 years ago. The event , which starts at 6pm, is part of the Jorvik Centre’s Canute Campaign to raise funds for the centre, currently closed following last winter’s floods.

Mr Hill will also sign copies of his new book, Viking Fire, which is the second in his Conquest Trilogy.