Estate agent wins witch auditions

Carole Bohanan, aka Carla Calamity, on being the new Wookey Hole witch

An estate agent from Shepton Mallet has won a lucrative job as a witch at the Wookey Hole tourist site in Somerset.

Carole Bohanan beat 300 fellow applicants for the £50,000 a year post. She said her "witchy charisma" had helped her secure the role.

She will be required to teach magic and witchcraft in the site's caves. The role also requires her to be able to cackle and not be allergic to cats.

The job came up after the previous witch retired from the role.

The annual salary of £50,000 is pro rata, and based on work done as required, mostly in the summer holidays, but also at Halloween and at Christmas.

Ms Bohanan, whose witch name is Carla Calamity, said her former career as an estate agent would stand her in good stead for the job.

"I think it's a natural progression. You need to perform a little bit of magic to sell houses in the current market," she said.