RE-ENACTMENT troops will turn the clock back to the great siege and battle of Weymouth.

Soldiers in period costume will fire muskets and recreate parts of the bloody Civil War clash on February 6 and 7.

They will be among the attractions in a series of activities in memory of the events of 1645.

The weekend will be based around the Old Town Hall on North Quay, the harbourside and the Nothe.

It comes after a similar successful event was held last year to commemorate the battle and siege.

Martin Hedley, who is one of the guardians of the Old Town Hall, said: “There will be living history in the town hall on Saturday.

“There will be musket fire on the hour between noon and 3pm as well as various re-enactments and interpretations about life at that time.

“There will also be pike drills for children and a battlefield talk, where the battle happened and where the greatest loss of life took place.”

On the Sunday there will be a rally at Sandsfoot Castle and a volley of musket fire before a march down Old Castle Road, Belle Vue Road, Bincleaves, across to the Nothe and through Franchise Street to Chapelhay and the Old Town Hall.

There will be more musket fire and a march to the Old Rooms, which stands on the spot where hundreds of Irish mercenaries lost their lives. A wreath will be laid there.

About 20 soldiers from the Portland Garrison will take part in the re-enactments although there will be more if the English Civil War Society attend.

The guardians of the old town hall and Pike and Shot Tour Events are among the main organisers of the weekend.

The Dolmen, whose Crabchurch Conspiracy album was inspired by the Battle of Weymouth, are also expected to perform over the weekend.

* HISTORIAN Mark Vine has written about the events surrounding the battle of Weymouth.

He also wrote the lyrics for the Dolmen’s Crabchurch Conspiracy album.