FEARSOME Viking warriors will descend on York next month for hundreds of events during the 22nd annual festival in the city.

More than 40,000 visitors are expected to take part in events during the five-day-long Jorvik Viking Festival, which runs between February 14 and 18.

There are more than 100 events and activities on offer during the festival, organised by York Archaeological Trust and Jorvik Viking Centre.

Sarah Maltby, head of attractions at York Archaeological Trust, said: "Everybody at Jorvik Viking Centre is hugely excited about this year's festival programme which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

"Visitors can expect an exhilarating mix of spectacle, culture, surprise and intrigue, with nearly 100 events or activities taking place over the five-day period.

"This includes Viking trial-of-strength competitions, combat drills and of course the spectacular final staged battle of legendary Viking Erik Bloodaxe.

"And if you're looking for something more sedate, a range of fascinating specialist Viking lectures will be taking place over the course of the festival."

The trial-of-strength competition will run in a festival marquee in St Sampson's Square on February 17 to find the Viking strongman of 2007. The contest will conclude the next day.

The first clash of weapons will take place the same day at the Eye of York, near Clifford's Tower, when King Erik of Northumbria and his men take on rivals for the throne.

His final hours will be re-enacted in a spectacular battle later that evening.

On February 15, angry warriors from the Royal Armouries will do battle in St Sampson's Square with a demonstration of combat through the ages.

The show, which will included a fully-armoured medieval knight, will take place in the festival marquee between 10.30am and 4pm.

People will be invited to help construct a giant wall of art on February 16 to recreate a Viking settlement and will be able to see traditional crafts including willow weaving and musical instrument making.

The same day there will be a lecture at the Tempest Anderson Hall, in the Yorkshire Museum, on the Vikings' influence on Britain.

Professor Judith Jesch, from the University of Nottingham and the Viking Identities Network, will talk about how Scandinavian culture and language was transplanted to this country.

There will also be film showings of Erik The Viking and Noggin Goes North, the story of Noggin The Nog, at York's City Screen cinema.

For more information about all the events and for details of the full five-day programme visit www.jorvik-viking-centre.com or call the information line on 01904 643211.