Picture the scene: On a cold day in January thousands of islanders, many dressed as Vikings, come together to throw flaming sticks at a wooden Viking longship in an orgy of fiery, health and safety-baiting fun.

No this isn't a Tramadol overdose or something from an episode of Twin Peaks, it is the annual Up Helly Aa festival on Shetland.

The centrepiece of the event in Lerwick, which has been going since 1870s, is the Viking boat burning which is preceded by a procession led by a jarl squad in full Viking armour, headed up this year by 2016 guizer jarl Mark Evans.

Planning for the festival begins months in advance, with locals building the wooden longship which will be burned on Tuesday.

The up to 1000-strong procession is led by the jarl squad, which drags the wooden ship through the streets of Lerwick.

Spectators crowd the streets as the squads follow the boat with flaming torches.

Once the longboat is dragged into the King George V playing field in the town, it is surrounded by those carrying the flaming sticks.

The squads then throw the fiery poles into the ship, razing it to the ground.

Once the boat has been burned, there is even time for a few refreshments in local hostelries, with parties and dancing across Lerwick until the early hours of the next morning.

Up Helly Aa celebrations are held across the islands in places including Scalloway, Northmavine, Norwick, Bressay and Cullivoe.