Undead rise for a night out in Bristol

IT seemed like the dead had risen again on Saturday as more than a thousand zombies took to the streets of Bristol.

People from all over the city and beyond dressed as gruesome corpses for the Bristol Zombie Walk from Stokes Croft to Castle Park.

With fake blood seeping through their torn clothes, the undead lurched and staggered through the busy town centre after meeting in King Square.

For the fourth year in a row shoppers, tourists and workers gazed in disbelief as the crowd snaked through Broadmead.

Save a HUGE 20% on your Flat Roof

GRP Flat Roofing

View details

Print voucher

Looking to save a small fortune on your flat roof?
Claim this voucher today and give one of our adviser's a call on:
0800 644 6323

Terms: Terms & Conditions Apply.

Contact: 0800 6446323

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

Zombies groaned and lunged in front of shocked pedestrians and pressed their faces up against shop windows prompting screams and laughs from passers-by.

Arrow signs marked "brains" coaxed the beady-eyed revellers to an evening of music from local bands in Castle Park.

Among the crowd were doctors, charity workers, secretaries and engineers all dressed in their finest zombie wear. Some even dressed as celebrities such as Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson.

Joining the hundreds of haunted souls was Liam Dykes, an engineer from Bedminster.

The 26-year-old said: "The plan is to just rampage through the town centre as we did last year. There are no real rules, it's just a bit of fun.

"It's a great atmosphere and people really make the effort."

He added: "I'm not sure why it works so well in Bristol. I think it's just the general vibe of the city. We are all quite laid back and not too serious."

Meeting in the King Square park off Jamaica Street just before the crowd set off on their march, were charity workers Emma Lynn, 20, from Newcastle and Tim Jones, 28, from Cleveland, Ohio.

Dressed as a dead bride, Ms Lynn said: "This is our first time here. After our friends told us about it, we had to come along."

Mr Jones, dressed as the dead bridegroom, said: "We plan to just head into the centre and follow the smell of brains."

As the crowd emerged out of the Bearpit, Audrey Wetmore, 86, from Redfield was temporarily trapped as she tried to get out of a charity shop.

She said: "I have never seen anything like it. I was a bit shocked at first but it looks like they are enjoying themselves. If they're having fun it can't be doing any harm."

Claudia Macciocchi, 30, from Gloucester Road, was working in Italian takeaway Pepenero when the zombies started beating on the windows.

She said: "They're all brilliant. Some of them are so disgusting."

Charlie Crowther-Smith, a 31-year-old road surface layer from Hartcliffe said: "It's a bit like being in a nightmare. Everywhere you look there's a different person with fake scars and blood."

He added: "You wouldn't catch me walking through Broadmead looking like that."

The Bristol Zombie Walk was one of many which took place across the country. Organisers received consent from Bristol City Council following last year's march which saw a break-away group let off fireworks under St James Barton roundabout.