A series of specialist arts and crafts workshops will take place on consecutive Mondays in August at the education centre in St Albans Cathedral.

Steve Clarke, education officer, said: “These sessions bring to life the impact that the Saxons, Vikings and Normans had on St Albans Abbey.

“Children will explore the history of these periods, have a chance to handle artefacts and create a memorable piece of art to take home.”

The workshops, costing £6 per child or £10 for two children, are suitable for children aged between seven and 11 years old, take place at 10.30am and 2pm on the August 10, 17 and 24.

Free family discovery mornings will also be running every Thursday throughout August. Families can drop in between 10am and 12.30pm to take part in a themed trail around the building and a craft activity. The first of the sessions on August 6 will be about angels, with a trail to find all the angels in the Cathedral.

Visitors to the event are encouraged to come along in their best angel costumes.

Other trails include Good King, Bad King on August 13 celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, which reveals how this incredible document and the history of St Albans are intertwined, and The Rhythm of Life on August 20 which explores the different music that can be heard at the Cathedral.

For full dates and details go to www.stalbancathedral.org or call 01727 860780.

Tickets for the workshops can be purchased from the Cathedral Box Office. Places can be booked by telephone on 01727 890290, online at: www.stalbanscathedral.org/whatson/family, or in the Cathedral Gift Shop.