FACE to face with men dressed in pig masks and blue overalls, I was part of a group ready to take on the Scream Factory.

As they gave chase we fled through a maze filled with roaring chainsaws.

Minutes later a judge sentenced us to the gallows. With black bags forced over our heads, we made our way to the noose.

In the pitch black, we clung to each other as from the darkness hands grabbed at us and the sound of terrifying cackles filled the room.

The petrifying ordeal came as part of the Scream Factory Halloween event at the barren site behind Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar.

Forced into a room filled with red smoke, we linked arms and searched for an exit, unaware of who or what was behind us.

Battling our way through the fog we came upon a graveyard filled with the bodies of lifeless zombies.

A woman whose eyes were now just bloody holes appeared and led us to the next stage.

She shrieked as she guided us to a cinema.

A light on the roof lit a board. It read: "Freddy vs. Jason showing tonight".

Liquid dripped on our heads as we rushed through its corridors catching sight of Freddy Krueger stroking the faces of his victims with his iconic razorblade hands.

He shouted and banged on walls as we ran to the door leading to the next horror show and found ourselves back in the pitch-black night and in front of a giant circus marquee.

Its ringmaster invited us in.

Clowns stood like statues all around us - some real, some not.

As circus music played they gave chase, and didn't stop until we'd reached the safety of the end of the trail.

The Scream Factory event takes place over 13 days in the run up to Halloween.

For more information visit www.screamfactory.co.uk