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A terrifying new Twitter craze has been sparked by claims a simple ritual can be used to summon the spirit of a Mexican demon called Charlie.

A ouija board-inspired game called the CharlieCharlieChallenge has surged across social media, prompting vast numbers of youngsters to claim they have successfully communicated with a sombrero-wearing spook.

A Twitter storm erupted yesterday after some users claimed an "ancient Mexican tradition" could be used to request a ghostly visitation.

The dubious rite involves placing two pencils on a piece of paper in the shape of a cross, before writing the words yes and no inside the four squares formed by the pencils.

Brave (or gullible) participants must then repeat the words "Charlie, Charlie are you here".

If the pencil moves and points to yes, Charlie is in the house and you can draw upon his demonic life experience and ask him for guidance in the form of yes/no questions.

Have you tried the challenge? Tell us what happened below

Some have asked Charlie for dating tips, others for life advice.

A One Direction fan has even asked Charlie which of the hunks should be her husband now that Zayne has left the band.

Bieber fans also wanted Charlie to tell them when the next album is out - an event which sounds much more horrifying than an encounter with a guacamole-loving ghoul.

Several warnings have also been circulating about the challenge, which could go badly wrong for unlucky necromancers.

Charlie is a stickler for politeness, it has been claimed.

Anyone who contacts him must chant "Charlie, Charlie can we stop" before calling his visit to an end or risk "leaving a portal open for demons to come in and out of your house as they please".

Charlie's demonic friends are also interested in contacting the living - and are much less charming than our fajita-munching phantom.

"Some people are coming into contact with demons," one Twitter user wrote.

"They may seem friendly at first, but have sinister plans."

"If you do not say goodbye to Charlie, you will experience paranormal situations such as hearing voices, things being moved, shadows, sinister laughing and more."

Mirror Online has already heard the sound of laughter - but it's not as creepy as the teen demon summoners would have us believe.

Twitter users are split on whether Charlie is really available for a quick visitation or whether the whole thing is just a silly internet fad.