MORE than 50 Wirral rowers have just returned from Norway after taming the Draken - a rebuilt Viking vessel the size of almost half a soccer pitch.

The Draken Harald Harfagre (Harald the Fairhair) - the world’s biggest Viking ships reconstruction – was manned by Wirral's 100-strong 'Navy' for a friendly invasion of Karmoy as part as part of the island’s annual Viking festival.

It also served as a precursor to next year’s return 'invasion' of Wirral as part of the vessel’s maiden international overseas voyage.

The ship can sail the high seas with a crew of about 20 – but it needs 100 oarsmen and women to manoeuvre it in and out of harbour.

Dr Stephen Harding, the driving force behind the venture, said: "This has been a once in a lifetime opportunity; too good to miss.

"It has given the volunteers a taste of what it might have been like in the Viking age, when young people looked forward to a journey of adventure – and excitement captured in the old sagas.

"Our Norwegian hosts have been absolutely fantastic and covered most of our expenses whilst we were over there.

"We look forward now to the prospect of this huge vessel coming to us, which if all goes to plan will be next year. When it does come the experience our volunteers have picked up will be invaluable."

Dr Hardin explained: "Rowing the Viking ship was very different from propelling a normal rowing boat – which has a maximum of eight people compared with the Draken's 100.

"Once we got used to its size the rowing was very smooth and I think we even impressed out hosts."

The trip ended with traditional saga readings by famed Viking novelist Giles Kristian.

The Karmoy trip helped to reinforce the growing links between Wirral and the Norwegians through the peninsula’s historical Viking heritage.

Last year Dr Harding received the award Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit from King Harald of Norway in recognition of his "outstanding contribution" to the understanding of the Vikings in north west England.

With colleagues at the University of Leicester he was responsible for the genetic survey of Wirral and West Lancashire and has been heavily involved with promoting the area's Viking heritage and building links between schools in Wirral and Norway.