Boffins are claiming the Isle of Man once had a thriving tourism industry, complete with visitors.

An excavation in Jurby’s found evidence of people who weren’t from the Isle of Man who visited for extended periods of time.

A spokesman said: “The Isle of Man was a popular vacationing spot for the Viking who just wanted to get away from it all”

The government says the number of Vikings visiting the Isle of Man may have gone up by 14 per cent last year, or may have dropped by nine per cent, or could have stayed the same as the previous year.