Usborne is reissuing a 1977 cult children’s book about ghosts with a foreword by actor and writer Reece Shearsmith.

Anna Howorth, director of global branding and UK marketing, said time was ripe for a new edition of World of the Unknown: Ghosts even though the book has been out of print for 20 years, as copies of the original were becoming increasingly sought-after by fans who wanted to read the book again, often to their own children.

The book covers everything a child might want to know about ghosts, from hauntings in the 20th century to spirits in folklore, including apparitions such as Black Shuck and Gef the Mongoose.

Shearsmith said: "When I was a child growing up in the 1970s, I was very much obsessed with horror, the supernatural and all things strange. My discovery of the Usborne World of the Unknown series in the school library came as such a blessing, seemingly targeted specifically for me and dedicated to everything I was fascinated by. As I grew older and forged a career writing and starring in such darkly comic TV shows as “The League of Gentlemen”, “Psychoville” and “Inside No. 9” I realise I am indebted to this book. I am certain I found the Usborne book of Ghosts at just the right age. It’s macabre contents stayed with me my whole life. Shaped it even."

The book will be published on 3rd October in paperback, priced at £7.99. It is already number one in the ‘young adult horror’ category on Amazon through pre-orders and a tweet announcing the reissue has received 9.7k total engagements, according to Howorth.