THE landlord of a pub which looks to scare punters during Halloween has appeared on TV.

Lance Montgomery, 41, landlord of the Anchor in Darwen, appeared on Judge Rinder on Wednesday to talk about his pub’s yearly terrifying Halloween display.

The display, now in its fifth year, sees the pub covered with spiders' webs around the bar and all shapes and sizes of arachnids are in every nook and cranny.

Another feature is the light-projected spiders scuttling on the ceiling.

Mr Montgomery was also in the studio courtroom to claim £70 for a cleaning bill for a customer who was sick over one of the Halloween props in the pub around Halloween last year.

However, ‘defendant’ Sarah Taylor, who drank from time to time at the pub, said that as the vomiting was caused by alcohol she bought in the pub, she was not responsible for the cleaning bill.

Judge Rinder dismissed Mr Montgomery’s claim, saying: “It was a matter for you to ensure that there came a time where a responsible party stopped serving her.”

Mr Montgomery, who has run the pub with his wife Melissa for six years, described his experience as ‘slightly surreal’.

He said: “But it was great to go on the show and do a little bit of promotion for the pub.

“I’ve watched the show many a time on TV.

"It’s one of my guilty pleasures.”

He added: “The growth of the scare fest industry shows that people generally like to have frights and get a form of thrill out of it.

“The Halloween displays have had a brilliant receptions from families and kids.”

The show, conducted by Judge Robert Rinder, heard the pub spends £2,000 to £2,500 decorating the pub every year.

It took around two weeks to get the pub ready this year with all their new characters and props making it the best yet.

The display was set-up in the first week of October and will be in place at the pub until November 6.