Battle of Bosworth anniversary marked by re-enactment event

Events at Bosworth included re-enactments of the battle and falconry displays

An annual event marking the anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth and the death of King Richard III has had a big increase in visitors, organisers said.

It was the first re-enactment event held at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre since the reburial of the king earlier this year.

The two-day show featured talks by experts, including Philippa Langley, who was instrumental in the discovery of Richard III's remains.

A rose-laying ceremony also took place.

The king's remains were found beneath a Leicester city car park in 2012.

They were identified when DNA from his body matched those of distant living relatives.

His death at the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485 effectively ended the Wars of the Roses.

Richard III's story has led to renewed interest in the event, said Fran Wills from Leicestershire County Council's Museums Service.

"The whole year so far has been a lot busier than normal, with ticket sales up by 58 per cent - 2,600 advance tickets sold."

More than 2,700 people attended the event on Saturday, organisers said.

Richard III's remains were found under a car park in Leicester

The city gained global attention for the discovery and his subsequent reburial

Last year, a £4m visitor centre, featuring a 3D printout of the skeleton, opened close to the site of the body's discovery.

The centre, housed in a Victorian former school, was extended to cover the actual location of the grave, to enable visitors to see it.