Sarah HallABBA star Benny Andersson has been sent an invitation to perform in Norfolk - at this summer's Hemsby Viking festival.Sarah Hall

Former Abba star Benny Andersson is being invited to perform in Norfolk - at a festival commemorating Scandinavian 'visitors' to our shores long, long ago.

Organisers of the Hemsby Viking Festival hope the Swedish musician and composer - who performs with his own band following the break-up of the 1970s supergroup, will make a VIP appearance.

Viking-themed festivities will include displays by a history group, which will

re-enact battles and create a Viking village for the weekend.

There will be Abba tribute acts, a Scandinavian market with craft, clothes, gift and food stalls, plus Scandinavian folk music.

Simon Middleton, the branding expert who is trying to help shake off Hemsby's sleepy image, said: 'We've invited Benny Andersson to take part and to judge the Abba tribute competition.'

He came up with the idea of

the Viking-themed festival because of the area's history.

Like many villages on the Norfolk coast, Hemsby was settled by Viking invaders around 800AD.

Mr Andersson, who

co-composed the musicals Chess and Mamma Mia! has yet to confirm whether he will be at the festival, to take place in the village from the afternoon of Friday, June 18 until Sunday, June 20.