MURDER, mayhem and the exploits of sinister serial killers will be at the heart of a quiz with a difference next week.

True crime buffs will be pitted against each other to test their knowledge of some of history’s most murderous villains on Tuesday, October 30.

A serial killer quiz hosted by ‘What’s the Point?’ will take place at Middlesbrough’s Longlands Club from 8pm the night before Halloween.

Ahead of the unusual event, teams are already brushing up on the likes of some of the world’s most notorious murderers, from Ted Bundy to Fred West.

Michael Hill, from the club, said the quiz was tapping into a growing trend and rise in the popularity of true crime culture, with shows like Making a Murderer and Staircase inspiring interest in the subject.

Mr Hill, who said Peter Sutcliffe was the killer that held his interest the most, said: “It’s a good topic for this time of year and true crime is really popular, it really intrigues people.”

He said that the quiz master would attempt to tackle the subject as sensitively as possible but added: “People of a sensitive disposition might not want to attend.”

Organisers were urged to donate some of the quiz proceeds to charities helping crime victims.

Dave Mead, of the Victim Care and Advice Service, said: "I realise that there is a lot of interest in the exploits of serial killers, dictators and despots, with most TV channels regularly showing programmes focusing upon the most evil in our society and I do understand the fascination. I would not want to spoil anyone’s fun, particularly on the run up to Halloween or suggest that this quiz is in anyway inappropriate or insensitive.

“However we do need to consider the devastating impact that homicide has on the families and friends of the victims, all of whom were someone’s son, daughter, father or mother - families never recover from the loss of a loved one.

“Taking all this to account, it may be a kind gesture for the quiz promoters to make a small donation from any subsequent profits to a victim charity to help those affected by homicide or violent crime and to acknowledge the importance of honouring the innocent as well as simply recalling the guilty.”