A family from Rochester has created a new board game inspired by Charles Dickens, and are hoping it will be the next big Christmas hit.

The Gerrings, who have been working on the project for the past four years, have begun fundraising on Kickstarter, the world’s largest funding website for creative projects.

They are looking for £15,000 to launch their idea and have already managed to raise more than half the cash needed, with their current total sitting at £8,045.

Peter Gerring, along with his wife Sian and his sons, Jason and Simon, came up with the idea after they stumbled across an old, homemade card game about the world and words of Dickens that Peter had made back in the 1980s.

The 65-year-old said: “We wanted to create a game that brings the world of Dickens and his masterful storytelling to life in a vibrant, addictive and completely hilarious family entertainment experience.”

“We wanted a game that never gets boring and is never the same twice.”

Scrooge is a tactical, survival tabletop game where players have to go around the board collecting various cards and playing them at the most opportune moments to make sure they are left with the best cards possible.

The aim is to outsmart Scrooge in the ‘Moment of Truth’ section at the end of play by having a better hand.

The game includes five packs of different types of cards: ghost, nightmare, money box, bag of tricks and heroes or villains.

Each one serves a different purpose as you make your way around the 56 uniquely inspired streets.

Players can choose from a selection of six famous Dickens characters to play, from Oliver Twist, Mr Pickwick and Belle.

The game is set to hit stores in time for Christmas but still needs more financial backing.

If you would like to help fund the project visit the Kickstarter website and search Scrooge the board game.