ONE of the North-East’s best-loved beauty spots was turned into a “dead scary” nightmare scene in aid of charity today.

Hamsterley Forest in County Durham was invaded by The Living Dead for the annual Zombie Run in aid of Butterwick Hospice.

Blood-thirsty volunteer zombies chased fund-raising runners through the trees and across a five-kilometer obstacle course.

And all the fundraisers from the dead were celebrating at the end after coffin up more than £3,000 for the hospice.

Organiser Milly Toner said: “It’s been a great event, lots of fun, lots of screams, and lots of valuable funds for the Butterwick, so we couldn’t ask for more.”

Milly thanked Hamsterley Forest for hosting the event and fitness instructor Neil Davies, of Bodyforce, for helping arrange the course and putting the runners through a warm-up routine before they set off into the woods.

One fundraiser, Lawrence McGuinness, of Evenwood, completed the course in a skeleton costume, saying: “I just wanted to support a great charity. I'd have felt bone idle just going to the pub - now I can have a pint with my conscience clear.”

Friends Sabrina Parker, from Witton-le-Wear, and Ros Seagrave, of Ramshaw, completed the run as a warm-up for embarking on an Arctic Survival Challenge in aid of the Butterwick in March.

“The Butterwick is such an important charity so we try to do whatever we can to help,” said Ros, who works as a riding instructor.

Volunteer zombie Hazel Addison, a farmer from Bowes, emerged from behind a hay-bale to say: “It’s a nice change from the day job as well as being great fun and all in a great cause.”