Country park ranger Justin Ruth will be on the warpath this weekend bringing history to life for hundreds of visitors.

Justin will be taking part in a battle re-enactment at Weald Country Park, Brentwood where he works and lives.

He is a member of the Medieval Siege Society and will play the part of a fighting man in a mini reconstruction of the War of the Roses.

Displays will take place on the Belvedere Field on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

More than 100 re-enactors, including some three generation families, will converge on the Weald Road site to demonstrate conflicts from the civil war fought between members and supporters of two English Royal families from 1455 to 1487 for succession to the throne.

It came to be called the War of the Roses because the Yorkists' badge was a white rose and the Lancastrians' badge was a white rose.

Members will also reconstruct a typical encampment and visitors will be able to see how families lived during battle campaigns.

Society spokesman Jim Marsh said: "The War of the Roses split the entire country and it even split families. People will be able to see a display of fighting and they will also be able to experience what life was like for the families."

Admission to the event is free, though there is a car parking fee of £2 on Sunday.

Published Thursday, June 19, 2003

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