A GROUP of more than 20 walkers celebrated Chester's Viking heritage by taking part in a 13 mile walk “mini-pilgrimage” from Neston to St Olave's Church in the city.

The event was held to commemorate St Olav, the former Viking who became patron saint of Norway and Scandinavia.

Every year in July in Norway great numbers of pilgrims take part in the St Olav’s pilgrimage from Oslo to Trondheim, which can last over several weeks.

The event on Saturday (July 31) attracted walkers from far away as Norway including seasoned St Olav's pilgrim Stein Thue from Trondheim.

The walk was led by one of Norway's four St Olav's priests, the Rev Kjell Skarterseterhagen who, with the Rector of St Mary and St Helen's church in Neston, gave the group a blessing.

At the end of the walk at St Olave's, Kjell and Stein sang a Norwegian Pilgrim song to the group who then all retired to the local hostelry across the road.

This year’s event heralded the start of the Viking Exhibition in Chester being organised by Liz Royles who is now keeper of early history at the Grosvenor Museum.