IMAGINE it is 1639, Charles I is on the throne and has launched an attack against the Scots because they have resisted his attempts to enforce Anglican reforms on their church.

The conflicts led to the uprising of Parliament, who would not support military action, and so began the English Civil Wars.

Charles I was eventually convicted of treason and beheaded.

Skipton Castle - described as one of the best preserved medieval castles in England - will be the magnificent setting for a re-enactment of parts of the Civil War this weekend.

Visitors will marvel at the scenes from history played out before their very eyes between 10am and 6pm tomorrow (Saturday) and from noon to 6pm on Sunday.

The 17th century Life and Times re-enactment group will entertain visitors with its displays portraying life in the era using a mixture of role play, living history and battle re-enactments.

The family based society prides itself on being approachable and welcomes members of the public to ask questions about particular roles or duties and handle artefacts on display.

Skipton Castle, dates back some 900 years, and withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War between 1643 and 1645.

It is was the last remaining Royalist castle to hold out in the North of England but Skipton paid a high price for its defiance.

Oliver Cromwell ordered the walls to be "slighted" - pulled down in parts so that if hostilities broke out again it would not prove so tough a nut to crack.

Later Lady Anne Clifford was allowed to rebuild the parts damaged, although Parliament was careful to ensure that the flat roof on the main tower which had supported cannon to fire back at its besiegers, became sloping.