Up Helly Aa: Viking warrior parade through streets of Lerwick
Shetland's famous Up Helly Aa fire festival - with women and girls in the torchlit procession for the first time - has witnessed the burning of a replica Viking galley light up the sky over Lerwick.
The 142-year-old event, which celebrates the islands' Norse heritage, is the biggest fire festival in Europe.
Females have traditionally been restricted to participating as hostesses - organising the all-night parties that take place in community halls across the Shetland capital.
However, organisers agreed to lift the gender restrictions for the main procession. The decision followed a campaign dating back to the 1980s.
Read more: Shetland's Up Helly Aa Viking fire festival returns
Related topics
- LerwickUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.
- WomenUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.
- ShetlandUpdates from your News topics will appear in My News and in a collection on the News homepage.