The annual Viking invasion of Shetland has started ahead of the fiery Up Helly Aa festival which celebrates the history of the island’s former Norse rulers.
Lerwick’s streets are teeming with hordes of raiders for the annual revelry which will culminate with the traditional torchlight procession and burning of a Viking ship.
A bib for baby Harry, with his father Daniel Brazier, is a reminder that revelry can be messy work (Jane Barlow/PA)
Members of the Jarl Squad dressed in Viking suits on the galley (Jane Barlow/PA)
Bearded “warriors” were all smiles on the streets of Lerwick (Jane Barlow/PA)
Every self-respecting Viking must learn to accessorise (Jane Barlow/PA)
Odin Geddes, four. takes a lick of his axe (Jane Barlow/PA)
Odin, four, leads his army through the streets of Lerwick (Jane Barlow/PA)
The Jarl Squad limbering up for Up Helly Aa (Jane Barlow/PA)
Magnus Johnston, a member of the Jarl Squad dressed in his Viking suit, with his three-month-old son Calum (Jane Barlow/PA)
Stewart Jamieson, the Guizer Jarl, leads members of the Jarl Squad through the streets in Lerwick (Jane Barlow/PA)
Shrek looks on disapprovingly as members of the Jarl Squad take a tea break (Jane Barlow/PA)
