The siege of Rochester Castle is coming to life - watch the battle and see part of the building collapse before your eyes.

Battle scenes with actors on horses, fireworks, stunning lighting and pre-recorded footage will all bring the story to life in a huge free event.

Clever projection work means people can watch the south east tower crumble stone by stone just as it happened 800 years ago.

Medway Council will stage four shows, on Saturday October 24.

They will last 30 minutes each and run at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm.

It all begins with an introduction from historian, Dr Marc Morris, who presented Channel 4’s Castle programme.

No ticket is needed and audiences will watch the show from designated areas around Boley Hill.

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s head of community services, said: “This is one of the most ambitious projects the council has ever undertaken as we bring history to life right before your eyes.

“The story of King John and the siege of Rochester Castle shaped the future of this country and this event will help tell that story to those who don’t know it and also provide a spectacular way of telling it to those who do.

“This will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the siege as it happened and people of all ages are going to enjoy the spectacular way in which we are presenting this story.”

This year marks the 800 anniversary of the siege of Rochester Castle and is one of the most historically significant years in Medway’s history.

It was also the year when the Magna Carta arrived in Rochester, displayed at Rochester Cathedral alongside the Textus Roffensis , which was written in Medway and is the only existing copy of the first code of English law which influenced the creation of the Magna Carta.