FANS of the famous Pendle Witches can now follow their journey for trial at Lancaster Castle with an audio cassette created by two local women.

The On The Trail Of The Pendle Witches series includes a guide, audiotape and film produced by UPR focused communication, based in the Lomeshaye Business Village in Nelson.

It features two Pendle women who have come to know the witches of 400 years ago as people rather than symbols and caricatures.

Sarah Lee, who works for Pendle Borough Council, and Maureen Stopforth, who runs the Witches Galore shop at Newchurch in Pendle, have tracked down where the peasant men and women lived and followed them, almost step by step, on the journey from the slopes of Pendle, through Clitheroe and the Trough of Bowland to Lancaster Castle's dungeon.

The pair have gained access to the actual dungeon where the witches were held -- now part of Lancaster Prison -- and have held the rings which chained them to the floor, as well as having stood where the witches finally perished on the gallows at Golgotha, high above Lancaster.

Sarah, who helped develop the award-winning Pendle Witches Trail, said: "Making this film has given us a real insight into the way in which a group of poor peasants were labelled witches and finally killed by the system.

"I have always been fascinated by the story of the Pendle Witches and researching the truth behind the legends has been very revealing."

Maureen lives with the legend on a daily basis but she still found making the documentary questioned some of her assumptions.

She said: "Visiting the places and walking through the landscapes where these poor people lived and died was both harrowing and inspiring. Four hundred years ago I could have been swept up as a witch just like they were. It is frightening what prejudice can do."

Director of UPR focussed communication, Peter Underwood, said: "We are just completing the editing and it will be on sale in the shops and by mail order within the next three to four weeks."