Ghosts at a Taiwan theme park's house of horrors have developed a fear of visitors after three were attacked by spooked customers, dpa reported.
The Janhusen Fancy World said Monday that it recently issued a warning to the public not to hit the ghosts after staff members who dress up as spooks were assaulted.
"We put up a notice warning visitors not to hit staff members who play ghosts, and ask them to leave hard objects like umbrellas and water bottles at the entrance to the horror house," a park official who asked not to be named told the German Press Agency dpa.
"We know it is human instinct to react when they are scared, but we still urge them not to hurt the ghosts," she added.
The Janhusen Fancy World, in Yunlin County, west Taiwan, launched the horror house in July.
The 3-million-US-dollar project, called Horrorwood, Haunted Theatre, was designed by a special effects team from Hollywood.
Since its opening, three staff members disguised as ghosts have been attacked by frightened visitors.
In one case, a young man slapped the face of a ghost saying he wanted to check if it was a human being or a robot. In another case, an old woman prodded a ghost with her umbrella. In the third case, a man kicked a ghost in the stomach.
Lei San-chih, the horror house's resident zombie, became so frightened after being kicked that he quit the role and for the safer job of makeup artist.