THE 25th Viking Festival looks to have been one of the most successful ever according to those behind the week-long event.

The head of York’s official tourism body said the amount of visitors over the past week to festival events “bodes well for a strong start to the tourist season.”

Gillian Cruddas, of Visit York, said: “Looking at the figures to the Visitor Information Centre we had a very busy week indeed.

“It’s difficult to say at this point whether it was up on last year, but it was certainly very busy with a lot of positive feedback.

“All the comments were are getting so far is that it’s been one of the best ever, so we are delighted.”

The week-long festival culminated in a fiery finale with the burning of a Viking long-boat and the re-enactment of a Viking battle on Knavesmire at the weekend.

Throughout half-term, the city saw a large amount of Viking- related activities including the first performance of play commissioned for the festival. Large queues were seen throughout the week at the Jorvik Viking Centre in Coppergate, which opened its doors in time for the festival following a £1 million refurbishment.

Mrs Cruddas said: “This is always a good indication for us. It’s almost the first thing after Christmas and New Year so we are delighted. We should have some good weekends running up to Easter now.”

Victoria Lawrence, communications manager at the Jorvik Centre said: “We are really really pleased with how the festival has gone – it’s been out best for a number of years.

“We have had something for all visitors of all ages and it’s an excellent way to round-off 25 years of the Viking Festival and the re-launch of Jorvik.”

She said the finale of the festival on Knavesmire had been a sell-out, attracting 2,500 visitors.

She said: “There were over 5,000 admissions over all to the different activities and events on offer throughout the week so we are delighted.

• Mould growing in one of the centrepiece exhibits at the Jorvik Centre is not a cause for concern, according to the popular attraction.

The centre issued the reassurance after The Press was contacted by a visitor to the Coppergate centre who said he had noticed white mould growing under the glass floor of one of the new exhibits.

A spokesman for Jorvik said: “There’s a little bit of mould creeping in which we are dealing with. There are no artefacts below the floor. What we are doing is drying everything out to lower the relative atmosphere. I wouldn’t anticipate any problems.”