A DERELICT former passenger ferry which has stood beached for more than 30 years is set to be brought back from the dead as a zombie survival experience.

The one time British Rail and Sealink car ferry Duke of Lancaster which lies abandoned on the Dee estuary at Llanerch-y-Mor near Mostyn, will get a new lease of life thanks to Zombie Infection, who are described on their website as "the UK’s biggest supplier of premium Zombie Experiences".

The Leader:

The company plans to start running events on the TSS Duke of Lancaster in January next year with visitors invited to "explore this huge haunted, abandoned ocean liner" while being chased by a cast of infected zombies.

Built in Belfast in 1956, by Harland and Wolff who also constructed the Titanic, the Duke of Lancaster operated as a European cruiser until 1969 when it was converted to a car ferry.

Liverpool-based Empirewise bought and beached her on the fishing dock near Mostyn where the vessel opened to the public in 1980 as the ‘Funship’, but later plans to convert the cabins into a hotel fell through when the owners failed to obtain planning consent.

Since then the rusting hulk has become a popular draw for graffiti artists until both sides of the ship were painted black last year.

The Leader:

Greg Rudman, marketing and event manager at Zombie Infection, said: “Over the last few years we have worked hard to build a strong and trustworthy relationship with the owners of the Duke of Lancaster ship.

"The impressive ocean liner has seen its fair share of disappointment to date so it is with great pleasure that after safety and logistic improvements, a lot of paint, love and affection we are now able to bring this amazing venue to our international fan base in 2019 and hopefully beyond.

"We want to assure the local and national population that we will (in partnership with its owners) take good care of her and bring her well and truly back to her glory days.

"It's is not only a wonderful place to visit but probably one of the greatest locations to do what we do. Already being the UK’s largest provide of premium immersive zombie experiences and after winning numerous awards for our events in 2018 this will only increase our portfolio further to deliver the very best value for money and the most exciting Zombie entertainment events in the world."