STORIES of spooks and ghouls will soon make their way around Darwen as a new tourism incentive is launched in the town.

'Ghostwalks', which have brought people to Blackburn from all over the UK and overseas, are to start in Darwen from later this month. And Blackburn with Darwen Council is giving away 50 free tickets to the inaugural walk on Sunday, April 18, from 7pm.

Celebrated 'ghost host' Simon Entwistle, from Clitheroe, started his walks in Blackburn two years ago but was approached towards the end of last year to begin a similar event in Darwen. After an appeal in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in December, he was supplied with bundles of new material by local folk for his Darwen walk.

He now believes that the new 75-minute town centre walk will be one of the most exciting and spooky walks in his extensive repertoire of ghosts, ghouls and ghastly goings on.

Coun Andy Kay, executive member for regeneration, said: "This new tourism development incentive is great news for Darwen and will attract many new visitors to the area. Simon Entwistle's celebrated ghostwalks have been successful for two years now and have entertained visitors from all across the UK and overseas including Australia, Italy, Germany, France and America.

"The town centre, villages and moors of Darwen are packed with excellent spooky stories and seemed the perfect setting for a ghostwalks expansion. We are delighted he has agreed to launch this new walk in Darwen.

"The Darwen Town Centre ghostwalk will feature the history and heritage of the area as well as traditional ghost stories and tales of dastardly deed. We're sure that this new visitor attraction will be a great success."

Simon, who will be dressed in authentic Victorian costume, will talk about heroes and villains, hauntings and murders, and phantoms and ghouls. A maximum of four free tickets for the first ghost walk are available from Blackburn Tourist Information Centre and will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis.

To join one of the regular Sunday walks, contact the borough's tourist information centre on 01254 53277 or Darwen Town Hall. Tickets cost £3 for adults and £1 for children.