HUNDREDS of people were spooked at a huge Halloween scary maze set up at a family farm.

Chigborough Farm, in Heybridge, hosted a spooktacular Halloween event with a huge maze and themed decorated zones.

This is the second year the farm has hosted the spooky maze after planting the six acre miscanthus maze in 2016.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Squashed: figurines at the mazeSquashed: figurines at the maze (Image: Chigborough Farm)Maldon and Burnham Standard: Scarecrow: creepy scene at the mazeScarecrow: creepy scene at the maze (Image: Chigborough Farm)

Almost 1,000 people visited the spooky maze this year to take part in the freaky challenge.

There were creepy creatures, a graveyard, a witches' coven, a circus, a pumpkin patch and an autopsy room all staged among the maze.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Actors: scary actors dressed for the mazeActors: scary actors dressed for the maze (Image: Chigborough Farm)Maldon and Burnham Standard: Maze: birds eye view of the mazeMaze: birds eye view of the maze (Image: Chigborough Farm)

Members of the Maldon Drama Group were among the actors dressed up in terrifying costumes to scare visitors.

Daytime sessions suitable for children included friendly witches, clowns and a “relatively friendly child catcher”.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Boo!: spooky creatures at the mazeBoo!: spooky creatures at the maze (Image: Chigborough Farm)Maldon and Burnham Standard: Clown: a creepy clown at the farmClown: a creepy clown at the farm (Image: Chigborough Farm)

After sunset, a mutant swine virus took over and turned the characters into zombies, terrifying hospital workers, scarecrows, witch doctors, undertakers, priests and nuns.

If you escaped these, you were chased out of the maze by chainsaws and Pennywise.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Pig: scary pig hidden in the mazePig: scary pig hidden in the maze (Image: Chigborough Farm)

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Family: Henry, Sam, Paul and PippaFamily: Henry, Sam, Paul and Pippa (Image: Chigborough Farm)

The family farm is run by Paul, Sam, Pippa and Henry Tallowin on the north side of the Blackwater Estuary.

They grow 1,000 acres of combinable crops and vegetables including sweetcorn, squash and pumpkins.

Sam Tallowin said: “We've had so many lovely emails and comments from happy if not slightly traumatised customers.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Chainsaw: terrifying actors looking ready to chaseChainsaw: terrifying actors looking ready to chase (Image: Chigborough Farm)

“We are so appreciative of the help we received to make the maze possible. More than 40 people were involved and huge thanks must go to our ‘amazing’ maze director Sue Wager, many local friends, Maldon Young Farmers, the Maldon Drama Group actors and Maldon Bootcamp.

“In the current economic climate, farming is not an easy prospect and like most farmers, we rely heavily on diversification to survive.

“Also at Chigborough Farm we have Trout and Coarse day ticket fishing lakes, camping and glamping accommodation, a pottery painting studio, Paul Bloss’ fresh fish shop, Lambton and Jackson Smoked Salmon, Frangipani SUP, Yoga and many more attractions including The Black Pig Farm Café.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Mysterious: hooded actorMysterious: hooded actor (Image: Chigborough Farm)

The next event to be held on the farm is a fly fishing taster day with free tuition from four qualified instructors on November 26.

For more information on future events, go to www.chigboroughfarm.co.uk.