ZOMBIES will take over a town this weekend.

About 60 people have signed up to a zombie walk to raise money for the NSPCC on Saturday.

The event is the idea of Ellis Stewart, who describes himself as “Hartlepool town citizen...and part time member of the walking dead.”

Mr Stewart, a father-of-three who has his own T-shirt label, is planning to climb Everest next year as part of his on-going attempt to raise £60,000 for the NSPCC.

He hopes his Hartlepool walk will become an annual tradition and Saturday’s two-and-a-half mile walk, at 3pm, will take place around the town’s marina and town centre.

He said: “The walk itself is free but the aim is to not only have fun but to raise funds for the NSPCC who I am raising money for with a charity climb next year. The zombie walk is one of many events I will be doing between now and next spring. Another is ascending Roseberry Topping 44 times in 24 hours to equal the height of Everest.”

Mr Stewart explained that he realised next year was the 60th anniversary since Everest was conquered and so set himself his £60,000 for a charity he feels passionately about.

Find out more about the zombie walk by logging on to http://www.hartlepoolzombiewalk.co.uk