This week I was lucky enough to go on the famous Ghost Walk of The Lanes with Husband and two good friends.

A small group of us clutched together outside Brighton’s most haunted tavern The Druid's Head with no idea of what to expect. We all questioned each other glad that others were also present. There was a buzz of adrenalin about us as we awaited our fate (our anticipation however, was part spooky fun and part worry about any audience participation).

In the distance we heard a bell being rung ominously and were genuinely thrilled as we saw a tall top-hatted figure emerge from the gloom and start calling out to us. In his hat and cape, and carrying a large doctor’s bag, our host certainly looked the part.

Our storytelling guide for the evening and creator of the Ghost Walk of The Lanes was Rob Marks. A respected actor, teacher and entertainer (I hope I am not shedding light on magic here?) it seems Rob has taken haunted Brighton to his heart and now hosts the walk every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from now until the weather takes a turn for the worse in winter. You just show up at the Druid’s Head at 7.30pm to take part.

We set off on our 70min journey around The Lanes, taking in the Town Hall, Old Steine, Northern Lights, Doctor Brightons and a few dark and scary alleyways with Rob using a small step ladder to stand above us and impart his historical and ghostly stories. Whilst listening to the extraordinary tales of the local undead I was struck by the attention to detail – the costume, the bell, the skull and deathmask props pulled from the Gladstone, the pistol that was used to strongarm our payment from us - it all contributed to the drama. As did the ad-libbing and banter from Rob - my friend was branded a Harlot and a group of passing Hens had the life scared out of them by a well timed shrieking lunge!

I was also impressed by the theatre of the experience. There was no holding back as Rob enthusiastically demonstrated ghastly murders and terrified mortals. I was genuinely worried for him as he rattled around atop his little step ladder whilst throwing himself physically into the tall tales.

By intimating we had a friendly ghost coming up who might indulge in a bit of goosing we - of course - all set about goosing each other and prodding our umbrellas around. Such is the cleverness of the storytelling, we ended up putting the frighteners on each other in the absence of any ghost!

I did manage to feel a few chills and thrills especially walking down a particularly tiny twittern single file - I thought I saw someone behind a gate and let out a blood curdling scream of my own (sorry to the residents of Black Lion Lane). But sadly the only spirits we encountered were the foul flavoured shots we all egged each other on to drink outside the Northern Lights bar (previously two haunted cottages don’t you know?) which served as a warming break half way round.

There was a lot of camaraderie within the little travelling group as we walked around The Lanes together and we spoke to a few fellow ghost-hunters in the pub later amidst plenty of gags about ‘haunting each other’. I would definitely recommend this as a feelgood experience and worth taking the time to step out of the pub for an hour to enjoy.

The feeling of fun carried on into the night and the four of us went to dinner in high spirits! Someone even suggested ghoulash...