FOLKLORE, fairy tales, legends and blood-thirsty horrors, make up the assortment of stories told at Exeter's Storytelling Club — and if you think storytelling is only for children, think again.

Such tales were often told round the fireside in years gone by. The spirit of these traditional stories of yesteryear have been kept alive by amateur and professional storytellers across the world.

Exeter's Storytelling Club is run by professional storytellers, Dave Oliver, 44, from St Thomas, Exeter, and Jon Freeman, 45, from Whipton, Exeter, who travel the country spinning yarns.

"Storytellers tell stories on any subject on any theme to entertain," explained Dave, who is also a professional puppeteer and actor. "It's important that stories aren't read but that they are told in their traditional manner as they may have been told to an audience in front of a fire years ago.

"The evening is about a mix of people getting up and telling stories, whether they are professional or beginners. When we founded the club, we didn't want it to feel like a literary evening so the performance of the storyteller is important.

"Storytellers are notorious for borrowing stories off other people! We are generous like that. We may tell our own stories or a version of a traditional story. The majority are old folk tales from around the world. Stories are a bit like music — if there's a really good story, we'll retell it in our own style.

"Performing in front of an audience is always the hardest thing but everyone is very supportive at the club. The important thing is for listeners to get enjoyment from a story and for storytellers to have the opportunity to share their tales and try new ones out to see if they work and see if any extras are needed — in a supportive environment.

"There is a broad mix of genres including easy-going fairy tales, horrors and funny, but rather rude North American tales!

"A mixture of people come along to listen and there is a real mix of storytellers as regards skill and background, some are amateurs but are very natural storytellers. And people of all sorts of ages come along, from teenagers to people in their 70s. The club should appeal to anyone who enjoys hearing a yarn, or who have a love of folk tales, or listening to a long, drawn-out joke."

Tracey Baker, 42, from Newtown, Exeter, has been going along to the storytelling club for two years. "I was working at the Globe at the time and was keen to promote it so went along. People are encouraged to have a go and after a couple of weeks I sung a couple of folk songs.

"The club has a really friendly and supportive atmosphere with really good quality storytelling. There is a real mixture of stories with some people telling stories about something that has happened to them in their lives, to more traditional tales about pirates and Vikings. Storytelling is definitely not just for children. These are tales for adults. It's quite an unusual activity and I think the more people that can support it the better."

Rik Stewart, 43, from St Thomas, Exeter, said: "I started going along because of my interest in myths. It is a chance to hear stories told in the way they are supposed to be told, by voice, and that's all. It make a nice change to sitting in front of the television, the only thing that's missing is a fire!"