THE chances are you've seen them walking down the street. Males and females, most in their teens and twenties, wearing dark eye make-up and strange clothing. They dress in black or deep purple and wear big boots with sky-scraping soles, covered in straps and buckles.

They're Goths.

Go ahead and look. They're used to it, though they care little for what anyone thinks of them. They are a strange and individual breed of people. They're different, and they're happy to be that way.

The town of Whitby in North Yorkshire, haunt of blue-rinsed retirees and holidaymakers, may at first seem a strange place to find a large number of Goths gathering together. However, if you venture there tonight and all this weekend, that's exactly what you will find. The locals aren't at all surprised: this is a regular occurrence. In fact, the Goths gather there twice-yearly and have done so ever since 1993.

This year is special, though. It is the tenth anniversary of the Whitby Gothic Weekend.

So why do the Goths choose Whitby?

Jo Hampshire, the organiser of the Whitby Gothic Weekend, chose the town because of its connection to the novel Dracula, written by Bram Stoker and published in 1897.

In the novel, Stoker tells how the famous vampire comes to England aboard the Russian schooner, Demeter. During a fierce storm, the ship is wrecked on the beach beneath the East Cliff of Whitby Harbour and Dracula leaps ashore in the form of a savage black dog, which runs off towards Whitby Abbey before disappearing into the night.

The reason for choosing Whitby wasn't due to the gothic nature of the novel, however, though many Goths do share an interest in the book. It was more to do with the idea that the people of Whitby, who are used to dealing with the fans of Stoker's book, would be less likely to be shocked by the appearance of the people attending the Gothic Weekend.

But why be a Goth? And what does being a Goth mean to the people who are?

Ian and Deborah Wilson are from Crook, County Durham and have attended the event from the beginning. "Goths are individuals," says Deborah. "Being a Goth allows me to express myself, to be the person I feel I really am. I know most people have the misconception that we all wear black clothes and white make-up, and some do, but that's not really what it's about, and there are as many styles as there are people involved."

Style is an important part of the Gothic experience. Though there are certain rules that most stick to, there is plenty of scope for people to express their individuality and there are many types of Goth. Unlike many other scenes, this doesn't seem to be a problem.

"You have the people into the vampire mythology, who might dress in authentic Victorian-era clothing, and traditional Goths, Techno Goths and Cyber Goths, side by side and no one really notices," says Deborah. "Everyone just respects everyone else's right to be an individual and to do it their own way."

Perhaps the thing that the Goth scene is best known for is the music to which it is linked, and this is still an important part of the whole event. "It was the music that first interested me," says Ian. "When we started out, what people called Gothic music was really an aspect of hard rock, and much of what you heard was influenced by the New Romantics and by punk. Things have changed, though. These days, you'll hear dance music, rock and 80s music on the same night."

This year, there is certainly an interesting range of music on offer. From bands with names like Inkubus Sukkubus and Chaos Engine to All About Eve, and with DJs keeping the crowds happy between sets, there is something for everyone.

But it's the people that the event is about. Centred around Whitby Pavilion, there are many things to keep the fun loving Goth busy, from scavenger hunts to football matches. There's a bizarre bazaar for all your Gothic needs, and even a sandcastle-building competitions. Gothic, of course.

It's little surprise that the event has become as popular as it has. Says Len MacKnight of the Elsinor Hotel in Whitby: "I've seen the number of people attending rise steadily from around 200 at the start, to a point where we're expecting more than 2,000 this time round, and that's very good for the local economy especially at this time of year."

And what of the future for the Whitby Gothic Weekend? Next year's dates are already booked. "As long as there are people interested in the event," says Jo Hampshire, "I'll keep putting it on."

John North will be back next week