In Pictures: Vikings storm streets of Lerwick as Up Helly Aa festival returns

Up Helly Aa made a roaring comeback to the streets of Lerwick as thousands gathered to watch the world-famous fire festival.

Guizer Jarl Richard Moar leads the Jarl Squad through Lerwick (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

The event attracts visitors from across the world and sees participants dress as Vikings to march through the streets of Lerwick (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

This year’s event made history after women were invited to join the Jarl Squad for the first time since the festival began in the 1870s.

This year, women were allowed to join the Jarl Squad at the festival for the first time (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

Jen Moar, the daughter of Guizer Jarl Richard Moar, was one of the first female participants in this year’s Jarl Squad (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

The march is traditionally led by the Guizer Jarl, or Viking chief, who leads his Jarl Squad on the march which culminates in the evening with a torch-lit procession and a replica longboat being set alight (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

Up Helly Aa aims to celebrate Shetland’s Norse heritage and begins with a morning parade culminating in a torch-lit procession and a replica longboat being set alight.

A member of the Jarl Squad has a drink in the Legion as they pass through Lerwick (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

Shetland and neighbouring Orkney were ruled by the Norse for about 500 years until they became part of Scotland in 1468 (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

The festival dates back to the 1870s when a group of young local men wanted to put new ideas into Shetland’s Christmas celebrations (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan

Guizers must be aged 16 or older and have lived in Shetland continuously for five years to lead the Jarl Squad (Andrew Milligan/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Andrew Milligan