EVEN the scariest horror movie is nothing compared to what goes on at Mike Crockett’s home.

Better known as Mitch, the 45-year-old father-of- two, who is nuts about classic horror films, has created his very own house of horrors at his Barnoldswick terrace home.

It’s not everyone who shares their abode with full-sized, fully automated zombies, including Chucky from the film Child’s Play and Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.

But for Mike, the waxwork figures feel like part of the family.

Mike, a talented sculptor, makes the frightening figures in a workshop in his cellar.

“I started sculpting models when I was really young and for Christmas I would get boxes and boxes of Plasticine. I could make models with my eyes shut,” said Mike.

“I loved to scare my classmates at school and get a reaction with my scary creations. I made things out of car filler, carpet glue and rubber foam, but once I had completed work experience at Muppet creator Jim Henson’s workshop in London, it really opened my eyes to what was possible.

“I got to work with latex and fibreglass and doing body shells for the monsters.

“You can make really realistic stuff with these materials, such as false heads and false arms. It was an amazing experience. For the first time, people knew where I was at – until that point people had just thought I was weird.”

Mike put his new knowledge to great effect when he returned home and for a time made horror figures from cult films of the time, such as Hallowe’en, to help advertise new releases in video rental shops.

His dream came true, however, when he began working full-time for Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks at Blackpool, which had been his favourite place as a child.

“Getting the job was like all my Christmases had come at once. I could play all day,” said Mike.

He also worked on projects for Blackpool’s illuminations and theme parks including Alton Towers. He spent time at Euro Disney making Cinderella’s castle and in Bahrain making sculptures and ghost trains.

But his life on the road came to an end as he wished to spend more time with his young family.

For the past few years he has worked at LDJ in Skipton, which makes, among other things, stunning Christmas grottos for shopping centres.

Mike still makes horror characters, often on a one-off freelance basis, for museums and theme parks.

More of Mike’s work can be seen on his website mitchsmoviecollectables.co.uk