The Hobbit: Photos of live-action role-players staging epic Battle of the Five Armies in Czech forest

Hundreds of Tolkien fans dressed as orcs, goblins and elves gathered in a forest in Middle Earth (well, in Middle Europe, anyway) to recreate the climactic Battle of the Five Armies from The Hobbit. Wearing home-made costumes and realistic make-up, participants battled it out in a forest near the village of Doksy in the Czech Republic.

The epic clash that pits men, elves and dwarves against goblins and wargs has become an annual fixture in the Larp (live-action role-playing) calendar. Participants make their own armour and weapons, trying to be faithful to the novel and the film. However, the outcome of the battle may be wildly different, as good does not necessarily triumph over evil. Battles have been staged every year since 2000, and the forces of evil have won about half of them. IBTimesUK shares photos from this year's epic battle.