PLANS to market Hemsby on a national and global level were greeted enthusiastically by members of the Norfolk Network at a photographic exhibition in Norwich.

PLANS to market Hemsby on a national and global level were greeted enthusiastically by members of the Norfolk Network at a photographic exhibition in Norwich.

The 100 members of the Network organisation, which promotes Norfolk business expertise, heard how the seaside resort was being re-branded to promote it on a wider level with a new logo and Scandinavian festival celebrating the village's Viking history.

Travel photographer Ian Aitken staged the exhibition of photos of Hemsby at the Forum in Norwich on Thursday, featuring images of some of the resort's familiar faces, including caf� and arcade owners.

PR guru Simon Middleton, 50, has launched a campaign to market the village after being called by Hemsby traders concerned holidaymakers were no longer flocking to the village in the wake of the closure of its Pontins holiday camp at the start of the year.

Following the exhibition, Mr Middleton said: “Things are looking very positive for the newly invigorated community of Hemsby and Newport.”

The logo was officially lunched at the exhibition, featuring a happy Viking with a bucket and spade above the words “Hemsby and Newport 1,200 years of seaside fun.”

More details were revealed about the festival which will have Scandinavian food, folk culture, crafts, music and Vikings. A page promoting the festival has been set up on social networking website Facebook under the name Hemsby Scandinavia Festival 2010.

Mr Middleton will be featuring Hemsby in the TV series The Brand Effect on Sky station My Channel which reveals how places are branded.

The series, set to be aired in July, will also show how Sweden has become known by its brands.