A NEW exhibition about the world-famous Lancashire Witches, including a first-hand account of their trial, is on display until November 3.

It also features a supposed 'Witches Ball', lucky charms and a 'White Witch's pig's heart'.

The exhibition is at The Judges Lodgings Museum close to Lancaster Castle where 20 accused, mainly women, were tried for witchcraft and 10 found guilty and hanged.

Those imprisoned and put on trial in 1612 included the Pendle Witches and the Samlesbury Witches.

Nine of the former were convicted and executed, one found not guilty, one tried at York Assizes while a twelfth died in prison.

The alleged three Samlesbury witches were all acquitted after the prosecution case collapsed.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is an original copy of 'The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancastere'.

This is the account of the Lancashire Witch Trials of August 1612.

It was written by clerk of the court at the trials, Thomas Potts ,who was ordered by the trial judges to make a record of the proceedings published in 1613.

Objects on loan from Warrington Museum, including a Witches ball, lucky charms and a white witch’s pig’s heart complete with nails, also feature in the exhibition.

Six of the Pendle witches came from one of two families, each at the time headed by a woman in her eighties: Elizabeth Southerns (alias. Demdike), her daughter Elizabeth Device, and her grandchildren James and Alizon Device; Anne Whittle (alias. Chattox), and her daughter Anne Redferne. The others accused were Jane Bulcock and her son John Bulcock, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, Alice Grey, and Jennet Preston.

They were accused of 'maleficium – causing harm by witchcraft',

The Samlesbury witches were three women from the Lancashire village of Samlesbury – Jane Southworth, Jennet Bierley, and Ellen Bierley – accused by a 14-year-old girl, Grace Sowerbutts, of practising witchcraft, child murder and cannibalism.

Cllr Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council’s culture boss, said: “This exhibition sounds fascinating. It is a good opportunity for people to learn more and understand the historical importance of why they are still talked about today. It will be amazing to be able to see the famous book of the Witch Trials.”

Admission to the museum costs £3 for adults and £2 for concessions. Children under the age of 16 go free. It is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.