ANGLO-SAXON youngsters have taken over a village near Darlington.

A Saxon settlement has sprung up in Sadberge, where young farmers tend to crops of wheat and barley grown around a thatched dwelling.

Close to the village’s church, the settlement has been created and is looked after by the Sadberg Anglo Saxon Farmers, aged between two and 11.

Their name is inspired by Saxon times, as is the project that sees them learn about the history of their village while developing farming skills.

The Northern Echo: A Saxon farm has been created in Sadberge. Pictured Mayor and Mayoress Brian and Doris Jones with James Vickers, eight, Megan Landin, nine and Bethany Vickers, 11. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Led by keen gardeners Patricia Lloyd and Vicky Vickers, the children tend to the growing patch of land and harvest produce.

Nine-year-old Megan Landin and siblings Bethan and James Vicars, 11 and eight, were among those tending to the garden this weekend.

Megan said: “It was a very hard life then, kids used to drink beer because there was no clean water – I wouldn’t have enjoyed really being a Saxon.”

Joined by Darlington’s mayor and mayoress, Bryan and Doris Jones, the group held a fundraising event on Saturday in a bid to raise money to expand the project by erecting more buildings and planting more crops.

To help with the expansion can email vlvickers@gmail.com.