Nearly 60 years ago Thanet made worldwide headlines when the Viking ship Hugin sailed across the North Sea to land at Broadstairs.

Now, another Viking ship has arrived the isle’s shores in quieter style.

The Sea Stallion from Glendalough, a replica ship built in Denmark has arrived at Ramsgate Harbour on its voyage from Dublin to Roskilde.

Last year the vessel was rowed from its home port to Ireland as an experiment to understand how Viking longships and their crews withstood arduous journeys centuries ago across the North Sea.

Measuring 30 metres long, the Sea Stallion was launched in 2004 and based on a design of Viking longship dating from the 11th century.

It is said to be the most authetic replica of a Viking longship to have been built. Since the end of June Sea Stallion has been rowed up the English Channel, calling at Portsmouth on the way.

The ship is due to arrive in back at Roskilde on Saturday August 9 at the end of its 1,400 nautical mile journey.

The vessel stayed at Ramsgate overnight before its 65 strong crew continued their voyage north to Scotland before heading east for Denmark.

They were expected to be in open waters, living in the traditional Viking manner throughout that time.