ANYONE who attends Dr Darren Oldridge's lectures at the University of Worcester expecting to pick up some tips on casting spells or making magic is going to be disappointed.

Dr Oldridge may teach a module on witchcraft and can tell no end of ghoulish tales about dead bodies being brought to life by mischievous spirits, spells and magic. But he doesn't dabble in the occult. In fact he doesn't even believe in witches, demons, devils, spirits, or anything supernatural - he's an ardent atheist.

The history lecturer, who has taught at the Henwick Grove site since 1993, first became interested in witchcraft about eight years ago.

"I am an historian and my interest is in religion in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. I became interested in witchcraft because I published a book on the devil in Tudor England as I was interested in the Reform-ation." As a result of his interest in the subject, the university decided to include a module on witchcraft as part of its history studies five years ago.

It was very popular with students and a number of universities across the country also offer it as part of their courses. "My textbook seems to sell well to undergraduates and a second edition is planned," he said.

Last year, he published a book titled Strange Histories - his first foray into the more popular end of the market. It has sold 2,500 copies in just a year. He has also recently written a feature in the BBC History magazine called Land of the Walking Dead.

"There seems to be an appetite for books about witches. Selling 2,500 copies is not bad for a hardback history book.

"I think there is something romantic about witches. There is also something pleasantly scary about it. People get some excitement from it."

But anyone who decides to study it at the university is probably in for a bit of a surprise as the complexity and implications of witchcraft studies unfold.