THE Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories for Christmas will be revived in West Somerset when Dan Broadbent, of Blabbermouth Community Storytelling, brings an atmospheric performance of ‘The Mistletoe Bough’ to two local venues in December.

Though now largely forgotten, ‘The Mistletoe Bough’ was once one of Britain's most popular and familiar Christmas songs, telling the chilling tale of Yuletide wedding celebrations which go tragically wrong.

During a game of hide and seek to round off the festivities, the bride disappears, never to be found.

Dan is both a storyteller and an award-winning archaeologist.

His new version of the story has been meticulously researched and explores the tale's long history.

It will be performed in Broomfield Village Hall on December 13 and then in Dunster Tythe Barn on December 14.

Dan said: “There are many historic houses that claim to be the location of true events which inspired the story,.

“Among these is Bawdrip Rectory, in Somerset.”

In the song, the groom is named as Lord Lovell.

In Bawdrip’s church is a memorial to Eleanor Lovell, who was ‘taken away by a sudden and timely fate’.

Other versions of the story are set in Italy, Germany, 1920s New York, Elizabethan England, and the First World War battlefields.

Dan said: “The venue for each performance has been chosen to create a suitably spooky atmosphere and a sense of history.

“The performances will be lit by candlelight to really create an ambience which does the story justice and makes it part of the Christmas tradition.”

The shows will start at 7.30 pm (doors open at 7 pm), and last about one hour.

They are suitable for adults and older children, with tickets priced at £14 (£8 for under-14s) available now online.

More information is available on the Blabbermouth storytelling website.