The team behind a brand new Halloween horror experience on Morecambe Prom say it will be like a 'mini theme park' for the town.
Solly Reader and Frankie Cooper from Johnny's Fear Factory have revealed more details about their new scary attraction set to open on the Prom this October.
There has been a lot of excitement since details of the 'horror experience' inside the former Hitchens and B&M Bargains/Woolworths buildings were announced last week.
Solly's company JET Ltd also owns the alleyway in between the two shops, as well as nearby Johnny's Warehouse Bar, Soul Bowl & Vista bowling alley and restaurant, and Pleasureland amusement arcade.
His plan is for that area of the Prom to become a major entertainment complex - open to everyone - over the Halloween period.
LISTEN to our interview with Solly Reader and Frankie Cooper from Johnny's Fear Factory
"We've got the buildings there and we haven't developed them yet, and walking round them, they're very eerie," said Solly.
"My wife likes going to scream parks, she's really into it. They keep getting bigger and bigger every year. It seems to be the thing, now.
"Everybody wants an experience. We want to bring people to the site in October. There's not much going on that time of year. It gets people out for a giggle, a bit of a scare.
"It's got that factory feel, walking around. Fingers crossed, it goes well."
The plan is to create four horror zones across the two buildings, which are both currently empty. The old Hitchens store is pictured below.
The former B&M will be home to a laser tag experience where players who are 'shot' receive a small electric shock!
While the overall Johnny's Fear Factory experience is for the Halloween period only, Mr Reader said he will be buying the laser tag equipment, so hopes to continue this part of it as a permanent weekend attraction.
This building will also be home to a 'Weirder Things' maze-like walkway of horror scenes and live actors - some based on popular movies - who will jump out from behind corners and doorways!
An audition process, run by local performer Matt Panesh, will take place to recruit actors to play the terrifying roles. Open auditons are taking place on September 5, 7 and 12.
Mr Reader (pictured below, right, with Matt Panesh from the West End Players, and Caroline Walker from JET Ltd) said there had been a great response to this with around 90 applicants.
Aside from the horror experience itself, there will be an area for people to come and 'dwell' inside the old Hitchens store, which will have a bar, food stalls and face painting - as well as a Hallway of Horrors.
An outdoor fairground behind the complex will include a 'Ghost Rider' ghost train with an added twist.
Read more: Indoor scream park to open in former Morecambe seafront stores - Beyond Radio
"I'm looking forward to it immensely," said Frankie Cooper.
"We've been 12 months thinking about this project. Last year did a lot of forward planning. We're just at the build stage, final safety stuff getting done. It will be a really big arrival on the scene once people realise the scale of it.
"Once people have experienced it, it will be away, fingers crossed.
"It will be like a mini scare show theme park, a big attraction."
Mr Reader said he wasn't yet sure what the long-term future holds for the buildings and the alleyway, saying he hoped to develop them but was waiting "to see what happens with the Eden Project" - the planned new £100m attraction earmarked for across the road.
He said there is lots of work to do to get the premises ready for Johnny's Fear Factory, including to "get the team together, get the buildings safe for everybody, dress the scenes, lot of car boot hunting and looking for props!"
"It's a bit different, something fresh," he said.
"I think the nearest one is Blackburn. North there's nothing, the nearest is in Newcastle. Hopefully we can pull quite a few people.
"I think all the (nearby) businesses in October, are going to benefit."
Today is the final day for early bird tickets which have been on sale for dates between October 20 and November 5.
There are also special toned-down family sessions available at 3pm each day.
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