It was a fright night that was truly an assault on the senses.

A team from Isle of Man Newspapers joined nervous victims at the gate to Castle Rushen for Nightmare Nights, the island’s first interactive scare attraction.

During a terrifying 20-minute tour of the 16th century keep, we came quite literally face to face with the malevolent Master of the Castle and his creepy court of servants and spectres.

As we were led hand in hand around the haunted halls, we were jumped out on at every corner by wild-eyed ghouls, demons and vampires.

First up was a wretch named Scrapfaggot, a pock-marked and rather camp serf with a distinct odour problem.

But negotiating the ancient stone steps and corridors, plunging into swirling mist, it was the fear of the unknown, what lay ahead, that set our nerves on edge.

Scariest perhaps was the scuttling creature in a cobwebbed spider room.

Our doom awaited in the final chamber where we were ordered to place black hoods on our heads and confront the evil boggatt.

We survived, just, with just a lingering whiff of Scrapfaggot to remind us of our terrfying ordeal.

Nightmare Nights is staged by Port Erin-based specialist event management company ’If (Inspired Futures) Ltd’. It runs until Saturday night (November 17) at Castle Rushen. You can purchase advance tickets online at www.nightmarenights.co.uk at £16 plus booking fee, or £20 on the door. Every ticket purchased includes a £1 donatation to Rebecca House.