St George is preparing to wield his sword against the dragon as part of the celebrations of the Coventry legend.

The famed crusader and national saint is believed to have been born in Caludon Castle, and he has been closely linked to the Lady Godiva story.

Traditional Coventry Mummers Plays will be performed in celebration of his life on Saturday.

And more than 25 Coventry pubs have won an extension to their licensing hours to celebrate the saint’s day.

Landlords argued that they should be given the chance to raise an extra glass to St George as bars in the city have been given extensions on St Patrick’s Day.

The commemorations are being held a day before St George’s Day, on Saturday 22 April, because this year it coincides with Easter Sunday.

Organisers decided to put the main celebrations on the Saturday to ensure that more people get a chance to see the festivities.

There will be three performances of The St George Mummers Play at the foyer in front of the Herbert Art Gallery at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm.

Each performance will be about 20 minutes, but will be longer if the audience gets involved.

In between each show St George, played by Roger Bailey, will take on a five-man dragon in a re-enactment of the killing of the foe.

The action will coincide with an exhibition at the gallery looking at local stories of heroes taking on deadly foes.

The centrepiece is two pictures of St George on loan from the National Gallery by Tintoretto and Gustav Moreau, which are accompanied by information panels explaining the legend.

There are also displays telling the stories of St Michael, after whom the old cathedral is named, and Sir Guy of Warwick, who found fame by killing the Dun Cow.
  

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