Longboats full of Viking raiders appeared at St Francis School in Falmouth on Friday afternoon - but parents have no need to be alarmed.

The horn-helmeted warriors carrying swords and shields were pupils from Penguins and Flamingos classes at the school, who were dressing up for a day and building their own ships as the culmination of their most recent topic called Were the Dark Ages Really Dark?

Over the course of the topic they have been examining history from the Anglo Saxons to the Normans, with the focus primarily on the Vikings.

Teacher Gwil Jones said: "Viking day has helped them learn about the invasion of Lindisfarne, when Vikings first arrived in this country and spread into the north."

He added: "They have really enjoyed making ships, and shields with their own insignia, and head stocks to ward off spirits."

"It brings the subject to life a bit more."