JORVIK Viking Centre has launched a rampaging programme of Easter events.

The Coppergate Centre, outside the attraction, will be packed with fun activities throughout the school holidays.

The Great Jorvik Dig will be set up in the middle of Coppergate, featuring a 30ft 19th century Norwegian ship "moored up" on sand.

Visitors can search for ancient Viking finds, buried in the sand, with archaeologists on hand to explain their significance.

Meanwhile, the Jorvik Vikings will be telling scary sagas of weapons and warfare and popular poet Adrian Spendlow, will be hosting saga workshops in the marquee to help potential bards make up their own adventure story of battle, giants, frost and fire.

Children can also create a memento of their visit by designing their own Viking T-shirt or badge and there will be the opportunity to handle real ancient artefacts and learn what they can tell us about the Viking way of life.

Updated: 10:12 Monday, March 21, 2005