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FANGS, STINGS AND SCARY THINGS

Ghouls, ghosts and creepy monsters will be out in force on the World's Most Haunted Island - the Isle of Wight - this Halloween.

Do you fancy being frightened in a haunted house, or scared senseless on a ghostly tour? If the answer is "yes!" then whatever your age, the Island definitely has a spooky surprise for you.

The spirits will be out and about all over the Island, where a host of spine-chilling activities are being held at various attractions and haunted places - including the magnificent ruined mansion of Appuldurcombe House (www.appuldurcombe.co.uk), where daily Spooktacular visits are planned for those who are brave enough, from October 22 - 27 and 31.

A supernatural evening of mystic magic is taking place at the aptly-named Enchanted Manor at Niton (www.enchantedmanor.co.uk) during the weekend of 19th October. Renowned supernatural researcher Gay Baldwin, will be making a special appearance, as will a most haunted expert - who will take all guests on a ghostly walk around the haunted places at Niton and a haunted lighthouse at St Catherine's Point.

Gay Baldwin has written several books about Ghost Island's many ghosts and haunted places. Her latest and seventh book in the best-selling series 'Even More Ghosts', is published in November. Visit her website at www.ghostisland.com for more stories, ghostly photographs and you can download a free self-guided ghostwalk around the darker side of Cowes.

More ghostly goings-on can be found at Blackgang Chine (www.blackgangchine.com) which will be hosting Ghost Walks from 25 - 26 October. Tales of gruesome deeds and mysterious sagas will be revealed at this unique location.

A special spooky Newport Ghost Walk (Tel: 01983 520695) on 24 October is a 90-minute walk through dark and haunted streets and alleyways of old Newport - visiting the many haunted scenes and hearing the ghostly tales.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway at Havenstreet, (www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk) also has haunted walks from October 26 - 27, as does the Isle of Wight Zoo at Sandown, (www.isleofwightzoo.com), which will be holding a 'bloodcurdling' stroll on 31 October.

A brutal family murder and a young girl pushed from a window to her death are at the heart of the hauntings at Arreton Manor (www.arretonmanor.co.uk Tel: 01983 520695), where there will be regular ghost tours from 29 - 31 October. Her little figure in a blue dress is regularly seen and heard crying 'Mama Mama' there, while other spooky goings-on include ghostly monks, whose grave chanting can be heard, and the figure of a woman wearing a long cherry-red gown may also be seen.

The popular Botanical Gardens at Ventnor (Tel: 01983 855397, www.botanic.co.uk) now occupy the site of the old Royal National Hospital. In 1969 the hospital was demolished, but the old operating theatre withstood all mechanical attempts to knock it down. When workmen finally used sledgehammers to demolish it by hand, they were faced with a young girl's ghostly figure standing in the doorway. Residents nearby complained about the weeping, moaning, groaning and misty shapes floating over the site. Visitors can experience all this and more from 26 - 28 October where a series of phantom tours will be taking place.