Ananova:

A Somerset tourist attraction is advertising a £50,000 a year post for a witch to live in a cave.

Wookey Hole Caves, near Wells, is using the Job Centre to recruit someone to teach visitors about witchcraft and magic after its previous employee retired.

The successful applicant 'must be able to cackle', 'must not be allergic to cats' and will enjoy a pro rata salary of £50,000 working during school holidays and at weekends.

The role is open to men, women and even trans-gender witches to comply with sexual discrimination laws, reports the Daily Telegraph.

"Wookey Hole wants the appointee to go about her everyday business as a hag, so that people passing through the caves can get a sense of what the place was like in the Dark Ages," said Daniel Medley, from Wookey Hole Caves.

"This was when an old woman lived in the caves with some goats and a dog, causing a variety of social ills including crop failures and disease. So the job is straightforward: live in the cave, be a witch, and do the things witches do."

Auditions for the role are being held on 28 July in front of a panel of judges who will assess applicants' costume and character as well as the ability to perform witch tests.

"Wookey Hole is advertising nationally and hopes to attract a strong field of candidates, with the £50,000 salary serving as a major incentive," Mr Medley said.

"Interviews for the post will involve on-site assessment incorporating a range or standard tasks. Ambitious witches, looking for a key career move, should turn up dressed for work and bring any essential witch accoutrements.

"We are witchless at the moment so we need to get the role filled as soon as possible. We are looking for someone who is friendly, a little mischievous and with lots of character."