PENSIONERS who have shelled out thousands to spook children with their elaborate haunted house hope to end an era with a bang.

For the last few years Brian and Eleanor Nichol have decked out their home and garden, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in a bid to give kids a treat at Halloween while raising cash for charity.

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The pair have spent almost £3,000 on all sorts of seasonal paraphernalia including skeletons, ghosts, grim-reapers and gravestones plus the many batteries they rely on to keep visitors entertained.

But due to age and health problems, the charitable couple have "with a heavy heart" decided to call it a day so this weekend's spectacular will mark the end of their Halloween open event.

"It's going to break my heart but we can't do it any longer," said Mrs Nichol, 67, who will play the role of the self-titled Wicked Witch of the North.

"I'm very proud of it and that's why I'm finding it very hard to let go."

The pair began the venture after hosting over-the-top parties for friends and family.

They decided to open their doors to the public in 2013 in order to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) which they chose because "it can help anybody".

Mr Nichol, 75, who will dress as a headless horseman, said: "We get pleasure doing this - to see their (the children's) faces and it's great to make people laugh and smile.

"We really go to town on it for the kids. We go to town people say there's the people from the haunted house."

People come far and wide to enjoy the now famous couple's haunted home and last year 800 little ones and their parents braved the grisly attraction.

More than £1,000 was handed to the GNAAS and the daring duo are anticipating greater numbers this year.

At Christmas time they even dress up as Mr and Mrs Claus and transform their garden into Santa's grotto, which they will also do for the last time in December.

Those feeling fearless enough to endure the frightening experience can expect a darkened tunnel which leads into a graveyard, operating theatre and a skeleton house with an added surprise at the end of the tour,

Thanks to help from the local Cree volunteer group, from Greenfield Arts, the "garden of evil" is entirely under cover.

  • Located at 354 Sampson Place, it will be open to the public at a cost of £1 per person from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.