Billericay has been "invaded" by modern day Vikings - with a visit by its Norwegian fan club.

Six Norwegians, who have even gone so far as to set up an Internet page on the town, visited Billericay from their home near Oslo.

The four men and two women visited some of the town's main sights before spending the afternoon at Billericay Town Football Club, watching the home team beat Dulwich Hamlet 1-0.

The Norwegians set up their unlikely link with Billericay after finding the town on the Internet.

They had been looking for a team to support who wore blue and white, the same colours as their Norwegian team, European Cup Winners Cup quarter finalists Valerenga.

Since then they have fanatically followed the football team's climb up the non-league football ladder - and have become interested in the town's history and sights.

Per Helge Berg, who was on his third trip to the town, was joined by friends Oeystein Andersen, Kathrine Berg, Lars William Saure, Kenneth Tolun and Line Oyrkoren.

Per said: "All the people we have met here have been very kind and friendly to us.

"There's thousands of British football supporters in Norway often wearing shirts with David Beckham on, but we were looking for a British non-league club."

The visit to the town was part of a week long trip to Britain by the six, who are staying in London.

They are planning to bring a 25-metre square Billericay Town flag on their next visit, which is due in March.

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