A CHESHIRE writer has come up with a frighteningly good idea for a publishing venture designed to shake up the world of the macabre.

Chris Wood, aged 36, is the ghoulish brains behind leading movie website britishhorrorfilms.co.uk and has launched an anthology of blood-curdling tales as a tie-in.

Now he is after like-minded souls to complete the second and possibly third editions of the series, which pays tribute to the famed Pan Books of Horror from the 1960s.

Ranging from traditional Gothic horrors to modern-day knee-tremblers, the authors have been drawn from all walks of life.

Using artwork commissioned by renowned artists Lawrence Bailey and Paula Fay, the cover is illustrated by a Paul Mudie painting.

The former Warrington Guardian journalist, based in Davenham, near Northwich, is no stranger to literary honours himself.

He was the winner of a BBC short story competition in 2004, when he penned the ending to a Shaun Hutson piece.

Chris, now a Cheshire Police press officer, told the Guardian: "At first I thought the anthology would just be a one-off. But since the first book has been published interest has grown and it now looks like it will be a regular thing.

"I have already received a number of submissions for volumes two and three and the quality is, if anything, even higher than that of the first.

"But I am always looking for new writers and artists to take part.

"Unfortunately at the moment we cannot pay anything for submissions but those who contribute are guaranteed a worldwide audience for their work - and who knows what that might lead to?"

The britishhorrorfilms.co.uk website is ranked sixth worldwide by Internet search engine Google, according to Chris.

All submissions must be relayed to Chris, at chris@britishhorrorfilms.co.uk by November 1. More details are available on his website.