IT’S close to midnight, and something evil’s lurking in the dark...

Don’t worry though, it is not a real zombie — this is Steve Clegg, who along with hundreds of others, will take part in a “Thrillerthon” later this month.

Mr Clegg, aged 54, and fellow members of the “undead” will join a global attempt to perform the largest ever simultaneous dance to Michael Jackson’s hit song Thriller.

Around 400 people are expected to wear spooky make up and fancy dress and gather at Hayward Leisure Centre in Bolton to dance their way into the Guinness Book of World Records on October 25. Mr Clegg, a PVC cleaner and chairman of Bolton Artistic Roller Skating Club, said: “Some of the children at the club were talking about the Thriller dance so I looked it up on the internet for them.

“I found stuff about Thrill The World and it grabbed my attention. It’s so different and I thought it would be brilliant for Bolton to join in.

“The whole idea of becoming a zombie — it’s not something you do in the normal walk of life.”

Thrill The World was started by Canadian dance instructor, Ines Markeljevic, in 2006 and last year more than 1,700 people took part.

It is hoped many more will dance for 2008 and Bolton is signed up alongside Brisbane, Shanghai, New York, Berlin and London.

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