AS HALLOWE'EN approaches, children's TV legend 'Sooty' will officially open the restored 1940s ghost train at Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre at Lifton next week.

Richard Cadell and Sooty from Citv's 'The Sooty Show' will be declaring the attraction open at 12.30pm on October 29.

The ghost train has been packed away for more than 20 years and has been restored by volunteers at the centre over the past ten months.

It is the sole surviving ghost train facade produced by the celebrated firm of fairground decorators Hall and Fowle.

An iconic funfair attraction, the ghost train is a darkened booth, with a snaking circular track along which dummy trains run at slow speed.

The train passes a series of effects in a chamber of horror featuring life-size ghosts and ghouls.

Two of the original effects have been retained for the sake of authenticity and the effects are made scarier by the triggering of sirens, hooters and a ghostly soundtrack.

The animated figures have been provided and fitted by Richard Cadell, who is a friend of the Fairground Heritage Trust. Richard operates 'Terror Castle' at his Brean Leisure Park, which is consistently voted the best ghost train in the country.