IT S HISTORY: A weekend of historical mayhem and entertainment is coming to Huntingdon this summer when the town hosts its first heritage festival. The free event will take place on Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, organised by Huntingdon Town Counc

IT'S HISTORY: A weekend of historical mayhem and entertainment is coming to Huntingdon this summer when the town hosts its first heritage festival.

The free event will take place on Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, organised by Huntingdon Town Council and Walton Historical Services.

The council has said it will be bigger than the Huntingdon 800 Celebrations in 2005 which celebrated the awarding of the town's charter and attracted 20,000-plus people.

Councillor Chris Doyle, who came up the idea, said: "People should expect the Huntingdon 800 event but much more. There will be 400 enactors on the field covering the period from 1135 to 1666. It will be a huge family event with so much to see."

It is costing in excess of �30,000 to stage but the council hopes it will benefit the whole town by bringing in plenty of visitors.

Cllr Doyle added: "The idea for a heritage festival to rival the 800 celebrations was first rattled around three years ago and it has taken a huge amount of planning to bring it to life."

It will take place at the Riverside Park and will include living history camps and gruesome medical advice from the equivalent of medieval GPs.

Norman warriors and Civil War soldiers will also battle it out in an arena while there will also be an historical market, a beer tent offering a selection of real ales, and in the evening on June 26, an historical banquet in the Commemoration Hall.

INFORMATION: The Huntingdon Heritage Festival will take place at the Riverside Park, Huntingdon, 11am-5pm on June 26 and 11am-4pm on June 27. The cost of the banquet on June 26 is �45 booked in advance on 01480 388688.