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A WEEKEND OF HALLOWEEN HAUNTS

Spooky spectres, ghoulish ghosts, haunted hostelries - all this and much more will be unearthed in supernatural Salisbury this Halloween.

Salisbury celebrates its spectral heritage with a special Spooky Weekend from 24-31 October. Our medieval city boasts a staggering 20 ghosts - including a beheaded aristocrat, a cheating gambler with an amputated hand, and a friendly 17th century Cavalier.

Hosted by Salisbury City Guides and backed by Salisbury District Council and the Salisbury and Stonehenge Tourism Partnership, the Spooky Weekend will see a series of guided walks held in the city. These walks will reveal the bizarre, horrific, mythical and down right scary aspects of the city.

Salisbury District Council's Tourism Manager, Bryn Jones, said: "Once again we are delighted to be supporting The Spooky Weekend. This unique event is quirky, exciting and great fun. I am confident visitors will be truly impressed by the chilling tales told about the city by our excellent guides."

Spooky stops on the walks include the Haunch of Venison where, if you play your cards right, you could hear all about the mummified hand of a card cheat or the ghostly vision of the 'grey lady' still seen in the Haunch of Venison pub. There is also the site of the Blue Boar restaurant in Debenhams where over 600 years ago, Henry Stafford the Duke of Buckingham, spent his last night of freedom before being executed for betraying Richard III. Find out about unusual happenings when any attempt is made to remove the cobblestones surrounding the area...

And new this year is a special walk called 'Plague, Pestilence and Poverty which will feature tales of horrific diseases from Salisbury's past.

City Guide, Margaret Smith, said: "As well as a programme of walks including 'classic ghost walks' we will also have plenty of 'family frighteners' for children. Our guides have plenty fo spine-tingling stories to reveal on our journeys through haunted Salisbury."

Feeling frightened you could miss out on some spooky fun? To find out more about the guided walks, contact Salisbury Tourist Information Centre (TIC) on 01722 334956.

Or why not call in to the TIC in Fish Row and check out the gift shop which features many halloween gifts and goodies on sale, with books on haunted places and stories of the supernatural throughout the whole of Wiltshire.

For the full timetable of walks go to www.visitsalisbury.com or pick up a leaflet from the TIC.

ENDS

8 October 2008

For more information contact Bryn Jones on 01722 434238 or City Guide Margaret Smith on 01722 743920 (after 6pm only) and Kathy Quinn on 01722 320349.

Note to editors: You are welcome to send a reporter/photographer/film crew on one of the walks. To arrange contact Margaret Smith on 01722 743920 or Kathy Quinn on 01722 320349.

Press release issued by Salisbury District Council press office, 01722 434561 / 434603.