IF YOU'VE ever fancied becoming a zombie or mad scientist and scaring the wits out of others, this is for you.

The Nothe Fort is hosing a chilling fundraiser like no other this Halloween - and organisers want people to help bring the story to life.

The event is billed as a cross between Crystal Maze and the Walking Dead, and 'survivors' of a deadly disease will be battling their way through zombies to find a cure.

But volunteers are needed to play a variety of roles - including zombies, army personnel and mad scientists, as well as on-site personnel - to help ensure every penny raised goes to good causes.

Funds will be split between the Nothe Fort and Island Community Action (ICA), which runs a number of services helping older people on Portland.

The event has been put together by Bored 2 Board Gaming (B2B), a Dorset-based group dedicated to bringing board games back to tech-clogged communities.

Steven Booth, marketing manager of Nothe Fort said: “With a history of paranormal activity and a labyrinth of spooky underground passageways, Nothe Fort is the perfect venue for an event like this - even more so on Halloween, when we can pull out all the stops to deliver a truly terrifying cocktail of horror, exhilaration and fun.”

Kim Wilcocks, CEO of ICA, said she is 'thrilled' to be working with Nothe Fort and B2B on the event.

She added: “We run a range of services for some of the area’s most vulnerable older residents and they will appreciate and benefit from every penny raised…although some of them have asked us if the event will replace our regular coffee mornings!”

To help get people in the mood, B2B has created a fantastic backstory for the event. It weaves around a series of chemical weapons tests off Portland Bill that infect local seagulls with a deadly virus. The infected gulls, now ravenous and out of control, attack ‘Patient X’, passing on the virus and kick-starting his transformation into a rabid, flesh-chasing zombie.

B2B director Emma Mason said: “Like all good zombie tales, Patient X is just the start of it. Within days the whole area is wall-to-wall walking dead, with only one chance for local survivors to escape – through the Nothe’s web of tunnels. Will they make it? Well, we’ll have to see!”

Anyone who does volunteer will receive a thank you goody bag and be well fed and watered during the event. They will also receive training and instruction in the role of their choice, with a rehearsal evening on Saturday, October 13.

For more information email Emma Mason at bored2boardgaming@gmail.com or call Katy Pascoe, ICA, on 01305 823789.

The event takes place from 7am to 1pm on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, 27.

Tickets are available at nothefort.org.uk