New Wookey Hole witch hunt

After a search that captured the nation's imagination, the owner of Wookey Hole says he "chose the wrong witch."

Carole Bohanan was named as winner of the £50,000-a-year position after more than 2,000 people auditioned for the role at the caves in Wells, Somerset.

But Mrs Bohanan, 40, will leave the attraction as soon as Halloween is over.

The former estate agent from Shepton Mallet won the hearts of judges by throwing snake sweets into the audience at her audition but she has not proved popular with the management at the attraction.

But Mrs Bohanan has hit back at the allegations, insisting she has done her best to fulfil her duties.

Circus impresario Gerry Cottle, who owns Wookey Hole, said: "We chose the wrong witch. In a job like this you need a people person, and I'm afraid Carole isn't. She's turned out to be too much of a prima donna.

"That's simply not what we need. So we've started looking for a replacement, who will come in to replace Carole after Halloween."

Mrs Bohanan said: "I have given it my best effort and when I was last there, people were saying I was doing a good job.

"I haven't been given any guidance on what to do, I think they think it is all done by telepathy. The children I talk to are only about the age of six and all I do is sprinkle them with fairy dust."

She said at the end of the summer season she was not booked at all for September. She was asked to work in October but one of the dates clashed with the wedding of a friend, who has breast cancer. Mrs Bohanan said Wookey seemed to understand when she told them she could not make that date.