An English hero faced a Viking warrior yesterday and made him look as soft as Danish pastry.

Pre-match rivalry boiled over in an historic showdown as St George crossed swords with Erik Bloodaxe.

The scary Scandinavian looked a fearsome sight but it was not enough to save his bacon as our man emerged victorious.

The blood curdling encounter took place at the York Dungeon to get fans in the mood for today's England v Denmark World Cup clash.

Erik is the star of the Dungeon's new Gorvik show, a recreation of the Viking invasion of the city that spares none of the blood and gore.

The "Bloodaxe" was Viking king of York twice - from 947 to 948 and again from 952 until 954.

A menacing figure with wild hair, fleece and leather clothing, horned helmet and mighty battle axe, he looked even meaner yesterday with his face daubed in the red and white of the Danish flag.

But Dungeon bosses reckon it is the Danes who will be on the retreat in Niigata and to make the point they sent out St George to run him through.

The Dungeon's Julia Griffiths said: "Erik looked even scarier than Denmark's Stig Tofting, but he was no match for an Anglo-Saxon warrior. Passers-by were amazed, but they seemed to really enjoy the banter."

In reality, Erik was Dungeon actor Tom Smith, and his rival was colleague Alistair Reith. Both will be rooting for Sven's men today.