Over the weekend hundreds of medieval knights will be joining a battlefield near Swindon and fighting for our entertainment. 

The annual Battle For Black Cat Medieval Festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday near Roves Farm, and organisers say that this year it will be bigger than ever. 

There will be live demonstrations of medieval weaponry, a living village, market stalls, food and drink including mead, knight tournaments and contests like archery and jousting. 

The main event is a large-scale battle reenactment taking place across both days, involving over a hundred people and even horseback archery. 

(Image: Battle for Black Cat Medieval Festival)

John Mackney, one of the organisers, said: "This year is going to be our biggest and best yet, the even runs over two days on August 31 and September 1, gates open from 10am for members of the public.

"This year what we've tried to do is have something happening at all times."

"There's a modern market with artisan and craft traders as well as a historical market selling historical and reenactment equipment, a knight school for children, a dress the knight demonstration and so much more.

"This all leads to the battle where 130 men at arms and another 70 archers take to the field and fight in the Battle for Black Cat. 

"The story behind it is that the lord of the land went off to fight in foreign lands and raised taxes to cover the cost of his battles, which started a rebellion back home. When he returns to collect his taxes he is met with an army of peasant folk.

"The two armies will charge into each other, and the fight will commence, a lot of shouting and crashing and banging, people dying, people being dragged off, interesting way to show people in a safe way, what a real battle and how hectic it was, sounds of swords crashing into each other.

At the end of the battle, we will see who the victor is."

The event is completely self-funded by the House of Hungerford reenactment club who take part in other events across the UK to raise enough money to hold the festival locally.

"Please get behind these events, it's something different for people do and it's about having fun, John added.  

The festival can be found at Roves Farm Lane, Swindon, United Kingdom, and tickets cost £5 for adults and £3.50 for children.