England mad Vikings took a day off from rehearsals to cheer on Gareth Southgate's history making football team.

The six performers, who are starring in epic Kynren, the UK's largest outdoor theatre event, kicked a ball around and posed with a giant flag to show their support for the Three Lions.

The Scandinavian invaders swapped Game of Thrones for a game of football as they played on the seven and a half acre set in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.(Image: North News)

The cast and crew of over 1000 volunteers and 150 animals, is putting the finishing touches together ahead of its 2024 season.

This year audiences will be able to explore a newly built Viking village with a working blacksmith's forge, cottages, and a cookhouse before sitting down to watch the show.(Image: North News)

Football is an important theme in Kynren, which takes in 2,000 years of England's most compelling history.

It features England's 1966 World Cup win and begins with the show's protagonist, Arthur, kicking a ball at Auckland Castle which opens up a portal and enables him to travel through time.

Dan Malkin, a volunteer who stars as one of Kynren's Viking blacksmiths said: "I'm excited to perform this in front of an audience and I think people watching will be shocked to see the brute force of the job – the Vikings were a tough bunch."(Image: North News)

Wendy Wilshere, head of volunteer casting and engagement, added: "We're continuously building upon Kynren's offering so that audiences returning year after year find something new to marvel at each time.

"This also means volunteers get more out of the experience, learning new skills and having opportunities to try new things.(Image: North News) (Image: North News)

(Image: North News)

(Image: North News) (Image: North News)

"We couldn't do what we do here at Kynren without the volunteers who are always incredibly willing to share their specialist skills with others and I hope they know how grateful we are to work with them."

The 90-minute performances start at sunset and end in starlight and will be taking place every Saturday night from 27th July to 14th September. Tickets cost from £26 for adults and from £16 for under 18s. Children aged 3 and under are free when sat on an adult's knee. Entry to the Viking Village is included in the ticket price.