Short videos have captured the excitement of medieval times during the annual Robin Hood Festival taking place this week at Sherwood Forest.

The festival, organised by Nottinghamshire County Council, is into its 31st year and welcomed Phil Rose to the festival as a special guest on Monday.

Phil played Friar Tuck from the 1984-86 TV hit show Robin of Sherwood which also starred Ray Winstone as Will Scarlet and Phil shared his delight about the festival on the county council’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6y6x07VMdk

The assembled crowds heard how Phil is to take part in a special audio project on the Robin of Sherwood series. The story – The Knights of the Apocalypse – was penned by the TV show’s creator Richard Carpenter after the end of the third series, but never filmed. Bafflegab Productions are working on an audio version of the latest story due for release in early 2016.

Phil spent the day at the festival talking to Robin Hood fans young and old signing pictures from his time in the hit TV show and afterwards said: “The county council’s week-long Robin Hood Festival is a fantastic way to celebrate Nottinghamshire’s famous outlaw.

“It was great to meet people, sign photos and talk about my time as Friar Tuck from Robin of Sherwood all those years ago. The children were very excited to meet me as well and it was a great opening day and there is lots in store for people to enjoy during the rest of the week.”

All week Robin Hood Festival visitors are being entertained by a range of exciting activities taking place at Sherwood Forest and also by our cast of medieval characters called the Festival Folk. Some of the characters have also shared their favourite parts of the week-long festival on the county council’s YouTube channel which you can see here:

• Ratty man Ratcatcher and wife, played by Paul and Glen Elliott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbKcyqnqOwk

• Haggedy Meg, played by Becky Mather https://youtu.be/hAM-V-g2SUk

Robin Hood (Steve Warrington) and the Sheriff of Nottingham (Mark Williams) are taking part in daily battles during this week and there is a packed programme of entertainment all week up to and including on Sunday, August 9.

During this year’s Robin Hood Festival, visitors can post selfies #sherwoodselfie and could win a pair of tickets to see Hood – The Legend Continues, a production at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham, on Friday 18 September. www.facebook.com/robinhoodfestival

Pictured is Phil Rose with Lauren and Emily Hart and Evie Betts