GHOST walker Simon Entwistle is hoping the people of Darwen can put him on the right track when he launches a series of walks around the town.

Simon has been conducting 'Ghost Walks' around Blackburn for the past two years, taking walkers on a journey through the hidden secrets of the town centre - from heroes to hauntings and mysteries to murders.

Now he has been approached by Blackburn with Darwen Council who have urged him to extend his walks to Darwen which they believe would boost tourism in the area.

Simon, from Clitheroe, wants to get the walks going by next spring but needs the help from local history buffs. Before plotting the route, he needs locals to fill him on interesting stories and characters from the town including local heroes and villains, ghostly goings-on and murders and mysteries.

Simon said: "Since I started the walks two years ago the response has been absolutely amazing. We have had groups come from as far afield as Birmingham and Bradford to take the walks and there are a lot of interesting stories to tell about Blackburn.

"But now we want to extend the walks to Darwen and obviously the people who know the place best are the ones who live there. I would be grateful for any information anyone has about Darwen's heroes and villains, Victorian murders or ghostly tales."

Simon first became interested in the darker side of the town's history after reading about it in local history books.

The Blackburn tours include the story of the Lancastrian who enjoys the notoriety of being the county's first Madame Tussaud's waxwork.

In 1873 William Fish, the demon barber of Blackburn, butchered the little girl Emily Holland. Ordinary citizens joined police in a five-day search for the child.

Anyone who can help Simon is asked to contact him on 07879 231705.