A VICIOUS Vikings day, devised and hosted by St Benedict’s School, Ealing, was attended by children from six west London primary schools.

To get into the Viking spirit, everyone began by creating their own Viking name, taking inspiration from Harold Fine-Hair and Eirik Ale-Lover.

Children then charted the routes of the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Vikings with a mapping exercise.

This illustrated the extent of Viking exploration, as they crossed the Atlantic to Iceland, Greenland and North America in longboats strong enough for oceans but agile enough for rivers.

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St Benedict’s deputy head Luke Ramsden presented a colourful history of the Vikings from around 800 when they started to raid the British Isles.

The children learned that the ferocious, plundering Vikings eventually settled down to become peaceful farmers and that they didn't have horns on their helmets.

Vicious Vikings Day was the latest in a series of events for gifted and talented pupils held at St Benedict's throughout the year.

It was attended by children in Year 5 from St Benedict's Junior School, Mount Carmel and St Gregory’s in Ealing, plus Bassett House, Kew College and Falcon School for Girls.