The second zombie apocolypse heads for East Durham

After the success of last year’s event, East Durham College plans to hold the ghoulish bash once again.

The college’s Houghall Campus in Durham will see groups being chased through its woodlands by gruesome flesheaters as the site is transformed for its Halloween Zombie Run.

The deadly dashes began in the US, with the college developing the idea as a theatrical experience, with inspiration also taken from the Danny Boyle film 28 Days Later.

More than 100 students will be involved in the event, which will be held on Friday evening.

The college’s performing arts lecturer, Billy Nicholson, believes this year’s will be bigger and better.

He added: “We had and amazing response last year after we hosted the north east’s very first zombie run.

“The event was a huge success.

“So we decided, with Halloween coming up, it would be a fantastic idea to set up another event – once again turning our Houghall site into a frightening maze taken over by the undead.

“The experience will start as soon as you enter the bus to travel over to Houghall.

“Participant will be in grouped in teams of 10 go round the site trying to avoid bloodthirsty zombies and get to a safe zone, taking on different life-saving tasks along the way.

“Along with the performing arts students taking part, the hair and beauty students will be doing some gruesome make-up to create our zombies and they just can’t wait to bring it all together on the night.

“The make-up work that has been trailed by the hair and beauty students is great and looks truly terrifying.”

The event is for people aged 14 and over and costs £8 per person, which includes return transport, access to the event, a specially branded zombie-run T-shirt and a gig after the event.

Transport is being laid on to Houghall from both East Durham College’s Peterlee campus at 7pm and Seaham at 7.30pm.

Anyone who would like to book a ticket can call into the college’s in Peterlee or contact student services on 518 8222.