The annual Napoleonic reenactment event returns to Whittington Castle over the first Bank Holiday weekend in on May, on Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6.

The event will feature living history, in both the Allied and French encampments, drill and musketry displays and plenty of smoke and action. The format for the battles will follow last years successful rolling skirmish, leading to an assault on the castle walls by the rampaging French, with an explosive finale!

Scenario.

The year is 1813, following the bloody victory at the breeches of Badajoz and other skirmishes in the Peninsula, hundreds of French POWS have been sent back to Britain to be housed around the Oswestry area. However, a band of local republican sympathisers have managed to free several prisoners from their captors and are running riot in the Shropshire countryside. These have been joined by a band of French insurgents sent on Napoleon's order to cause menace and mayhem.

Hearing these reports the local Mayor has sent word to the brigade headquarters asking for help. Several regiments on home leave have been dispatched to quell the invaders who have taken possession of a stockpile of gunpowder and muskets and are holed up in the ruined castle of Whittington.

Re-enactment groups confirmed are below, who all should provide plenty of colour and action to what is now an established weekend at the castle.

Allies: 32nd Cornwall, 2nd Queens, Coldstream Guards, 5th/60th, 2nd 95th, Black Brunswickers, 68th Durham Light Infantry, 51st Regiment of Foot, Anglesey Hussars.

French: 45eme, 21eme, 85eme. The running times are 10-4pm each day with a skirmish around 3pm each afternoon.

For more information please email or call Whittington Castle on 01691 662500, or email info@whittingtoncastle.co.uk or info@5th60thrifles.co.uk