Haunted house ready to scare this Halloween

Haunted House owner John Cook greets a visitor. Screengrab / Simon Baker

With Halloween in mind, Canterbury man John Cook has turned his shop into a haunted house, luring punters in from across the country to be scared out of their wits.

Mr Cook started the Haunted House last year, using the spare rooms behind his family business in Pines Beach, near Kaiapoi.

It takes small groups, only five at a time are permitted to enter the house which comes complete with its own graveyard.

It's been extremely popular with those who enjoy a bit of a fright - last year one man took the tour four times. Others don't even make it in the
door, like the group from Wellington who were frightened enough by their host greeting them in a scary costume, and got back on their bus.

Mr Cook only opens the House for the weeks surrounding around Halloween, which this year falls on Saturday night.

- NZ HERALD STAFF