'When people are terrified, I've done my job right'

James Mundy creates scary attractions for Scarefest at Alton Towers

"When you hang around the exit of a maze, and people come out absolutely terrified, you know you've done your job right."

James Mundy from Alton, Staffordshire, has spent the past 20 years trying to scare people by creating spooky rides and attractions.

He is behind the latest spooktacular Scarefest maze, Edge of the Forest, which is sending shivers down the spines of theme park fans at Alton Towers.

People "absolutely buzz" off the adrenaline hit of being frightened, said the park's creative theming and scenic manager.

He explained the trick to getting "plenty of scares in" was a combination of jump scares, where actors frighten people, and special effects, lighting and air pushes, "all sorts of magical things really".

Mr Mundy, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, said he was forever scrolling about horror mazes and theming and is very impressed by some of the home Halloween decorations he sees.

"There's nothing better than going past a nice big spooky house on the way home; it's great. I always stop and see what's happening."

'Hands over the eyes'

But he said he has not always been a fan of being scared.

Coming from Alton where his grandparents lived, as a child he was a regular visitor to nearby Alton Towers.

"The old Haunted House used to be one of my absolute petrified rides. It was hands over the eyes, crouching into grandma's lap, not wanting to see what was going on," he said.

"So it's quite unusual that I'm actually doing these things now, from when I was a little boy being very terrified about anything spooky."