HISTORY came to life for Matchborough First School pupils when a group of travelling Vikings pillaged their way into the school.

Members of the Longship Trading Company came to the school to teach the children all about the Vikings and their way of life.

It was a hands-on day where children got to dress up in costumes and even attack Bjarni, one of their Viking visitors, with authentic swords and spears.

The visitors came as part of the youngsters' history studies where they are looking at eight periods of history.