As Halloween fast approaches adrenaline junkies across the county are queuing up for scare mazes and various horror-filled attractions.

But what is it like to be on the other side of the spooks? As part of our new ‘Have a go’ series reporter Joe Crossley tries his hand at being a live scare actor to see if he can deliver a scream-inducing fright.

Ghouls and creatures of the night have always given me the heebie-jeebies.

So having live actors jumping out at me from dark corners in a creepy maze is not something I would put myself through usually.

However, in a bid to get over my fears this horror season I decided to join those scouting for scares, rather than be chased around by them.

Fort Amherst in Chatham has been the backdrop to the country’s longest-running horror maze and so its Halloween Horrors attraction seemed like the ideal place to learn the ropes.

The defences date back to the Napoleonic Wars when Britain was under threat of invasion from France.

This year's event will be the 41st anniversary of the spooks at the fort.

I arrived at the venue just before twilight and met the organisers who took me into the iconic tunnels which run into the caves on the hilltop and were extended during the period so soldiers could withstand a siege.

It was here I had makeup put on me by Paige Baptist of Paige’s hair and media makeup.

Within ten minutes she had applied black face paint to my eyes and mouth.

I was then led to the scene where I would be scaring people which had been under construction since the start of September.

Planning for the whole event, however, takes a whole year with ideas and schemes being thought up as soon as the horrors finish.

The theme this year was a deep south village which is inhabited by an incestuous family – ‘The Wonkies’.

I was to be transformed into one of these villainous rednecks with fur, leather, a whip and an axe, as well as a freighting mask.

I also was handed a huge pair of heavy boots which added a few extra inches in height to further intimidate the family and friends of the live actors who were welcomed along as test dummies for the maze.

Before the tours started I chatted to my newly adopted family about why they volunteer every year.

Almost everyone working on the scheme is not paid and all proceeds go to the Fort Amherst Heritage Trust who run the site.

Doorman Ross Curtis was playing the character of ‘Pops’ and has been performing as a horror live actor for three years.

The 37-year-old, from Gravesend, had been working as security at the Fort and after watching the event unfold he wanted to get involved himself.

He spoke to one of the other scare actors, Ben Horesy, who managed to get him in.

In return, he helped Ben, who goes by ‘Fluffy’ in the scare game, get his doorman licence.

“I mainly volunteer because the crew we have here is like a family,” Ross explained, “You’ll never meet a more welcoming group of people.

“Of course, the scares are a good laugh. People's reactions are brilliant sometimes and once you get your first scare you get hooked.”

Meanwhile, ‘Fluffy Six Fingers’ does door work, labouring or bartending outside of horror season.

The 24-year-old, from Medway, has been scaring people since 2017 as his parents had acted at the Fort as well.

He said: “It’s in my blood as I am a second-generation actor along with my two sisters. We have all tried it out and if we didn’t like it we could leave.

“But so far we all enjoy it and so we keep coming back.

“It can be exhausting as we all really go for it to put on a really good show for the people going through the tours.”

Another one of the actors is the mum of two seven-year-old twins Paige Humphrey who plays “Mama Wonkie”.

The 27-year-old has been terrorizing visitors for more than a decade after her cousin, who was the manager of the event, told her about it.

“It sounded like really good fun,” said barmaid, “so I decided to join in 2012.

“Every year I say it’s going to be the last one but I always come back. I just really enjoy scaring people and getting their reactions.”

It was surreal interviewing the trio in full makeup and costume and seeing that they were far from the fearsome characters they were presented as and were actually just lovely regular people.

But as Ross says, “you won’t think we are lovely when the show starts”.

As the first tour began I decided to hold back and watch to get a flavour of what to do.

When the visitors entered a cacophony of noise erupted with chainsaws revving, loud Hillbilly music playing and the ‘Wonkies’ yelling.

The event allows contact and this was put into liberal effect as the flashing strobe lights added to the experience which put the hairs up on the back of my neck.

As I watched the chaos unfold I was much happier to be with the live actors than on the other side.

Within a couple of minutes it was over, giving the actors a short rest.

This time I was trying to put my scary face on and was given a chainsaw – without the chains.

My nerves were going as I heard the visitors walk through.

From out of the dark I jumped out with the chainsaw revving and attempted my best evil laugh.

But despite my best efforts, I got little reaction other than an odd look - tough crowd.

I spoke to my fellow actors and said I could see it was harder than it looked.

Ross eased my fears of being a rubbish scarer by saying that the visitors were family and friends and so had an idea of what was coming and were prepared for it.

Despite my below-par performance, I did really enjoy the maze more because of the people who were involved and can see too why those taking part “get hooked” on the reaction.

But truth be told it was truly shattered thanks to the heavy costume, the running around and having to try and be scary.

My fellow actors may have looked truly terrifying but after spending the evening with them they had allayed my fears.

That does not mean that this Halloween I will be able to watch a horror film or go to a live event.

However, those who are braver than me can visit the full Halloween Horrors for a true scream-inducing scare.

Children's tours start today and the main tours start tomorrow (Friday, October 25).

For more on the events click here.

All the proceeds from tickets go back into keeping the Fort running.

Have you got any suggestions for Have a Go Joe’s next adrenaline-fueled challenge, or ideas as to what fear he should conquer next?

Let us know in the comments below or email jcrossley@thekmgroup.co.uk