Halloween: Kidsgrove builder Daniel Bossons creates spooky maze in back garden

BUILDER Daniel Bossons hopes to scare hundreds of visitors this Halloween with a special spooky maze that he has built in his back garden.

The 29-year-old, from Kidsgrove, created the maze by using security fencing, lasers and an old piano.

He added extra touches of terror with a short video about an ancient curse on the home and persuaded family and friends to dress up as horror characters such as a zombie schoolgirl.

Now Mr Bossons, who was inspired by a visit to Scarefest at Alton Towers, has obtained a temporary event licence and hopes to raise cash for animal charity the PDSA.

The maze starts with the video, telling visitors about a group of missing teenagers.

Visitors are then invited to walk through an old fireplace and into the maze for the terrifying trip.

Daniel was inspired to build the Halloween experience after going along to the Alton Towers’ Scarefest last year.

Mr Bossons said: “We have been working on this for over a year now and we want it to scare people.

“It started when I went to Alton Towers and seeing how expensive the mazes were there.

“I just thought ‘I could do that myself’ and it would be good to have something for the children to do on Halloween.”

Mr Bossons has spent more than £700 building and developing the maze.

He said: “I have put a lot of money and time into this with the cost of hiring the fencing and costumes. But I don't mind because I want people to enjoy the experience and come and find out all about it.”

The maze, which fills his entire garden at 25 metres long and 10 metres wide, opened earlier this week.

He said: “We keep adding things to it every night and doing something different so that everyone will get a surprise.

It is a reverse maze because visitors are forced to go back through it once they get to the end – but who knows what they may find a second time round?”

Mr Bossons has promised that any money raised profits from the night will be donated to the PDSA in Stoke after they treated his dog Rocky.

So far more than 150 people have been through the maze and many more are set to arrive tonight for Halloween.

He said: “A lot of people who have been through it have said it is better than the professional ones.

“I wanted to do it and see what kind of reaction I got and then next year we might hire a field and expand again.”

Mr Bossons’ nephew Kyle Collear-Smith and his friends – drama students at Clough Hall School – have volunteered to act in the maze.

Their teacher was also involved with making the short video at the start of the maze.

Kyle, aged 14, from Talke Pitts, said: “It has actually been really fun.

“Because I love drama it has been a great experience for us all and it is really funny seeing some of the facial expressions in the maze when people are scared by us.”

The maze can be found at 163 Gloucester Road in Kidsgrove and is open from 6.30pm to 9.30pm tonight.

It costs £3 per person. All Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult.

Visitor Julie Gregory, from Newcastle said: “I think it is a fantastic idea and well worth the money. “It is great how they change it every night and all the actors are brilliant too.”

To ensure a time slot all tickets must be booked in advance on 01782 926044. Or you can buy a ticket at the event for the next available time.

The maze has full insurance and is supervised by Mr Bossons and his family.