COLOURFUL knights and damsels have been summoned to Leighton this Saturday (Oct 11) for a spectacular medieval jousting tournament.

The age of chivalry, heraldry and hand-to-hand battle will be brought to life in a day of exciting medieval mayhem.

Free activities are scheduled to take place throughout the annual Living History Heritage Day, which is organised by Leighton-Linslade Town Council.

The event will be staged at two locations – the wonderful medieval Parish Church of All Saints in Church Square, and also on the playing field at Leighton Middle School – use the entrance in Pulford Road, just before Parsons Close Rec.

The Lion Rampant Medieval Display Society, which has been thrilling audiences with performances in Britain and Europe, will have their medieval encampment in the Pulford Road Arena.

So too will The Knights of Honour, a 14th century re-enactment society which recreates the period known as The Hundred Years War. The event promises thrills and spills as riders from War Horse perform a mounted skill-at-arms display, and later in the day they return to the arena to recreate a spectacular fast moving jousting tournament.

Lots of activities will appeal especially to children, particularly the Perrotts Puppet Shows, free story telling sessions, medieval mayhem craft sessions and kids battles.

There will also be a chance to take home some souvenirs in the form of medieval candles, coins or a bottle of traditional honey mead and take photos.

At the church, local organisations taking part include the Leighton Buzzard Women's Institute who are recreating medieval recipes and an opportunity for visitors to taste and try some unusual dishes; Leighton Buzzard and District Archaeological and Historical Society, Linslade Horticultural Society which will be exploring medieval plants and herbs, the Knitting and Crochet Guild with a knitted medieval village, stained glass with Anna Conti, Albion Archaeology and family history with Linda Gransby.

Music will be performed by the Linsdale Singers and medieval duo Sautri. You will also see jesters, stiltwalkers and fire eaters as well as living history displays and a colourful array of medieval tents housing displays on etiquette, medieval cooking, weapons and armoury.

And Leighton's Quakers North Street Meeting House) are holding an open ffternoon with medieval refreshments from 2pm until 5pm.

Living History Day which starts at 10am and ends with the jousting finale at 3.30pm.

For more information see the town council website www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk or call (01525) 631915.

Programme in Leighton Middle School field – Lion Rampant encampment:

10.30am Archery practice. Early morning archers are laying wagers and weighing up their adversaries.

11am Squire training. An exciting demonstration of freestyle fighting.

11.30am Dancing, music and singing by ladies and gentlemen in their most sumptuous medieval finery.

12.30pm War Horse. A trio of mounted knights demonstrate their equestrian skill at arms on powerful horses.

1pm Archery competition. Archers compete in speed and accuracy. Hear the facts about the medieval longbow and the supermen who shot with it.

1.30pm Medieval music and singing. In a performance of religious and secular music you will find some of the tunes are strange and some will be strangely familiar.

2.30pm Tournament and Melee. Epic fights, a breath-taking fire show and to end the spectacle the melee – only one man will be left standing in a dramatic free-for-all.

3.30pm Finale War Horse. Glitteringly-arrayed knights pound down the tilt field, meeting in a clash of lances.

Programme in the Knights of Honour encampment:

11.30am Tournament. Swords gleam and thrust in an exhilarating display of armed combat.

1pm Melee. Strikes and blows as combatants fight to the yield.

2pm Kids Battle. Children aged three to 10 will be coached in simple combat moves with suitable, harmless weapons.

Programme in All Saints' Church:11am Linsdale Singers perform in concert.

12.30 and 2.30pm Sautrie perform traditional songs and play early instruments.