Newlywed couple photobombed by 200 VIKINGS at local beauty spot

Having one or two unexpected people at your wedding or in your photos might not be too unusual – but a whole Viking raiding party?

That’s what newlyweds Sam and Anna Shepherd ended up with as they were having their wedding pictures taken at a beauty spot.

The couple, from Chorley, Lancashire, had opted to have their special day captured in film at Lancashire beauty spot Rivington Pike.

Unbeknownst to them, the site was also being used for a Viking march organised by the Rivington Heritage Trust to encourage more families to visit and enjoy the iconic landmark.

The first the couple knew of it was as 200 Nordic seafarers marched at them with swords drawn and horns blowing.

Anna, 32, said: “When we heard the horns going off and saw them running towards us we really didn’t know what to think.

“But everyone was so friendly and polite we just decided to go with the flow and get our photo taken together.”

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She added: “After they had gone I asked Sam ‘did that just really happen?’ I don’t think many people will have a wedding photo like ours and everyone has been talking about it ever since.”

Fancy dress proved to be a running theme for the couple, who held a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in the theme of Alice and Wonderland.

Guests also enjoyed Tweedledum and Tweedledee picture boards, an Alice in Wonderland cake and even croquet on the lawn, complete with flamingo mallets and the couple surprised their four-year-old daughter Niamh with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, who announced a honeymoon at Disneyland Paris.