BRADFORD'S "first-ever" Scare Fest is "not for the faint-hearted" and will pit members of the public in battle against a variety of creepy characters.

It will all take place at Laser Mania, based in the iconic Black Dyke Mills in Queensbury, combining laser tag and all things horror.

Laser Mania only officially opened back in May and was born out of boredom during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.

John Bates and wife, Jemma Bates, already owned Hoverkart Mania - a children's go-karting track - a floor down from Laser Mania.

That opened in November 2019, but excitement was tempered by the unpredicted pandemic that shut the world for around a year-and-a-half.

Fast-forward to 2021 and Laser Mania was complete and the T&A took a tour of the arena last Thursday to see what it was all about and to find out about the new "Scare Fest" event.

This latest venture is unique to other laser tag arenas, in that it moves away from a science-fiction theme and focuses more on realism, according to Mr Bates.

He said: "It's a little bit different to your usual laser tag arena, it's more of a Call of Duty inspired, modern, up-to-date facility.

"I think it appeals to all kids who like their Call of Duty.

"We've got modern weapons, we've got a modern battle arena.

"It's good fun, it's kept me busy."

More than 90 per cent of the arena has been built by Mr Bates himself.

Some of the particularly impressive features are the two homemade gatling guns and a huge tank.

The miniguns were created use pieces of pipe, while old barrels and reused materials are littered throughout the arena.

Players are split into teams and briefed in an "Apache helicopter" before each game.

They are then handed an interactive headband, which flashes and vibrates when a player is hit, as well as a weapon from a selection of different guns.

There's Glocks, handguns, MP9s for smaller children (as they are easier to manage) and the largest weapon of the selection, an AR15, which features a red-dot laser sight.

We tried out the latter and you really do feel immersed in the environment with realistic noises and a satisfying sequence of clicks when you have to reload.

There are several game modes too, from a simple deathmatch, to a bomb mode and Capture the Flag.

Children and adults will have to use all they have available to them come next Friday (October 29), when Laser Mania launches its first "Scare Fest" event, just in time for Halloween.

Mr Bates said, as far as he is aware, this is the "first-ever" event of its kind in Bradford.

He added: "We're going to have live actors, with chainsaws and weapons, and they'll take part in the laser tag games.

"So it's not for the faint-hearted.

"We're looking at perhaps 10 or 12 plus, supervised by an adult, and obviously adults as well.

"So we're looking forward to that."

The latest addition to the Laser Mania arena is a hospital tent, which features a body-bag and severed limbs hanging from the roof.

Those additions have been made specifically for the event, as well as a head on top of the arena's tank and skulls dotted around the arena.

Mr Bates said: "We've got Dr Death, Piggy, which some kids are probably familiar with from the apps - comes at you with a baseball bat.

"We've got other actors as well, a little scary girl, played by my daughter.

"So it should be pretty creepy."

Mr Bates is hoping to run a "Scare Fest" every month, after the opening event next week.

He said that he will also continue to add to the arena as well, as it develops.