Boat trailer theft threatens to throw Viking festival off course
West Runton carpenter Brian Howe with the longboat he built for Sheringham Viking Festival. The trailer due to transport the boat on the main festival day, has been stolen from Splash car park, in Weybourne Road. Photo: SHERINGHAM CARNIVAL - Credit: Archant
Sheringham Viking Festival organisers' plans to stage a ceremonial burning of a 16ft longboat on the seashore could be set adrift, after thieves made off with the trailer due to transport the wooden craft to the beach.
Festival-goers parading through the town last year for a ceremonial boat burning on the beach. Picture: MARK BULLIMORE - Credit: Archant
Carnival committee member Tony Santelli, who is part of the festival team, said the trailer, which was made from an old caravan chassis, was stolen last week from behind Splash Leisure and Fitness Centre, on Weybourne Road.
'We use it to get the boat to the town for the parade,' he explained. 'It has been sitting there for nearly a year then, just before the festival, we went up there and it had disappeared.'
Last year's Sheringham Viking Festival boat-burning. Photo: MARK BULLIMORE - Credit: Archant
Mr Santelli appealed for its return, adding: 'We were absolutely choked as we had let the tyres down to make it more difficult to steal, but they took it anyway.'
The carnival committee would be pleased to hear from anyone who can loan them a suitable trailer in time for the festival on February 17. To help, phone 01263 479941
