Angela Cole braves the county's newest - and scariest - Halloween attraction.

I'm not a screamer. I can sit on a rollercoaster surrounded by people screaming and not utter a sound.

That is, until I visited the Hop Farm's Halloween attraction, Freak Week. Call me a wimp but there were moments of plain terror and it would be fair to say I've never screamed so much in my life.

Running until Monday, October 31, the attraction near Paddock Wood has four Fright Night events, two of which - The Slaughter House and Seance of Mary Ellen - we sampled.

All staged after dark for added spook factor, the first we tried out was The Seance, staged in the Big Top and featuring Kent illusionist Richard Bellars, who recently appeared on Pen and Teller's TV show Fool Us.

There's quite a bit of audience participation involved in this, so be prepared and, more importantly, will he be able to contact the ghost of Mary Ellen who died in the circus top in 1963?

In the Slaughter House, Mr Porky's meat pie factory isn't all it seems.

It's a scary maze and, as you go in in twos, expect to meet live actors around various corners.

I wouldn't be giving too much away to say a man with a chainsaw provoked my biggest terror moment.

That man with the chainsaw was, in fact, the creative brains behind the project, Tom Swift, who many in this area will also know from several years of panto at Maidstone's Hazlitt Theatre.

This latest attraction may be as far from the laughs of the panto as you can get - but it'll be as memorable an autumn evening's entertainment and, just so you're forewarned - he's behind you!

Freak Week at the Hop Farm takes place from 6-11pm from Thursday, October 27, to Monday, October 31.

FIVE FREAKY EVENTS not to be missed this Halloween

1. Brands Hatch

Giant racing trucks compete in the Delphi British Truck Championship but the circuit will be surrounded with attractions for the festivities. A Terror Zone will have a fun fair and disco. Racing also includes the Pickup Truck Racing Championship, Legends Cars Championship and BARC South East Saloons.

Open: 9am to 5pm from Saturday, October 29 to Sunday, October 30.

Cost: Weekend ticket £21, raceday £21, in advance £17, under-13s free.

Address: Brands Hatch Circuit, Fawkham, Longfield DA3 8NG

Contact: 0843 453 9000 or www.brandshatch.co.uk

2. Broadwitch, Southfleet

Fear-seeking souls can get the fright of their lives at the Spooky Castle, on the terror trailer rides, inside the Vault or abandoned in the Field of Fear.

For more fun-loving visitors, the daytime activities include pumpkin carving, twilight tours and the haunted wood tours.

There will also be a pumpkin shy, a corn cannon and a ghoul hunt.

Open: until Monday, October 31.

Cost: from £8.

Address: Manor Farm, New Barn Road, Southfleet DA13 9PU

Contact: 01474 834161 orwww.broadwitchhauntfest.co.uk

3. Chiddingstone Castle, near Edenbridge

Some ghostly face painting and apple bobbing form part of an afternoon of traditional Halloween favourites. There will also be a walk around the grounds but visitors will have to keep their eyes open in case a resident ghost makes a surprise appearance.

Open: 11.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday, October 30.

Cost: £7, children £4, under fives free, families £19.50. Car parking £2.50. small charge for pumpkins and face painting.

Address: Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone TN8 7AD

Contact: 01892 870347 or www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

4. Kent Life, Maidstone

Children can go trick or treating at the attraction's historic buildings but be warned you never can tell who is lurking behind the doors. Youngsters can also be grossed out at creepy crawly cuddle corner, complete with spiders and rodents. There is also an after-school trick or treat on Monday, October 31 from 2pm to 5pm.

Open: 10am to 5pm until Sunday, October 30.

Cost: £8.95, concessions £7.75, children £6.50, under fours free.

Address: Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3AU

Contact: 01622 763936 or www.kentlife.org.uk

5. Westwood Cross, Broadstairs

A Halloween craft workshops will keep the little ones occupied as will Captain Jack Sparrow performing magic tricks and balloon modelling. While the children are having their face painted, head to the Pamper Lounge for beauty treatments.

Open: from 9.30pm on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29.

Cost: Free (Pamper Workshop requires a receipt £20 spent at Westwood Cross on the Friday or Saturday.)

Address: Westwood Cross Shopping Centre, Margate Road, Broadstairs CT10 2QJ. Contact: 01843 867273 orwww.westwoodx.co.uk