A giant re-enactment of a Roman tournament is to take place to mark the one-year countdown to the Olympics.

The Museum of London is hosting the recreation in a 1,500-seat arena to be constructed in Guildhall Yard, which lies above a genuine amphitheatre. A series of one-hour shows on July 30 and 31 will see processions of chariots and combat presented by Britannia, a company formed in Essex more than 20 years ago. Museum spokesman Antony Robbins said, “the Gladiator Games will bring the spirit of our Roman past to life in the most dramatic way possible.”

The aim is to present a realistic portrayal of combat so organisers are warning of simulated bloodshed which may not be suitable for younger children, London Evening Standard reported.