A FORMER ghost hunter is spending a night in as many haunted locations as possible for charity.

Dean Midas Maynard is hoping to raise £500 for The Sophie Lancaster Foundation. An organisation working to challenge prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures.

Mr Maynard said: “I was really touched and saddened by the story of Sophie Lancaster, like many people who saw her death on the news in 2007.

“I’ve been supporting the charity ever since I heard Sophie’s story as I think we need to work on preventing discrimination against people who are different.”

Miss Lancaster was beaten to death whilst visiting a park in Lancashire with her boyfriend. The couple were targeted because of their alternative dress sense and were left for dead.

Her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, woke up from a coma a week after the attack however, miss Lancaster died from her injuries.

Mr Maynard from Willington, in County Durham, has already lined up a stay at three of the North-East’s haunted venues including, The Manor House Hotel in Ferryhill. It is said to be plagued by the ghost of a crying boy looking for his mother.

Mr Maynard who now runs a PR company, is hoping to visit ten haunted venues in the lead up to Halloween.

He is urging other haunted venues to come forward and allow him to investigate their paranormal phenomenon and would particularly like to investigate The Theatre Royal in Newcastle.

The theatre has reported sightings of a spirit named The Grey Lady, she is believed to have thrown herself off the upper gallery, landing on the seats below.

If any haunted venues are interested in supporting the cause contact Mr Maynard on 07806556660.

To donate to the cause visit his JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/deanmaynardhalloween3