Walking under ladders and smashing mirrors might be unlucky for some, but when it comes to superstitions, Brummies are most terrified about Friday the 13th.

In fact some Brummies are so scared of falling victim they admit to locking themselves in their homes and not stepping out-side their front doors until the clock strikes midnight.

While the superstition appears to be fading elsewhere, a whopping 62 per cent of city people quizzed in a survey say it’s the superstition they fear most.

Experts believe the date means more to Brummies because they are more fascinated by supernatural programmes like Smallville and Buffy the Vampire Slayer than the rest of the UK.

All have helped to resurrect old wives tales, urban myths and superstition for both the young and old.

Jonathan Hollett, a spokeman for the FX satelite channel, which carried out the survey, said: "The fear of Friday 13th makes for no fun in Brum. The movie Friday the 13th must have had a profound effect on Birmingham residents."

Psychologists say the assumption that anything that goes wrong is to blame on the date resides solely in the mind of the person, and within the realm of the boogie man.

A black cat crossing your path came a close second in the survey of the most feared superstitions in

We’re taking no chances!

WALKING under a ladder, throwing salt over your shoulder to blind the devil and touching wood for good luck may seem like silly superstitions.

But not to Brummies. People across the city are the most superstitious in Britain, adhering to weird and wonderful old wives’ tales that rule their lives.

Brummies we spoke to on the street seem to go that little bit futher, even following obscure folklore to the letter.

Miriam Dooley, aged 22, from Acocks Green, was embarrassed to admit her odd superstition of ’drop a knife, bring a man into the house’.

She said: "Maybe it’s an Irish thing as my mum always says it, but you have to get a man in the house to ward off the bad luck of dropping a knife."

Versha Pokar, 24, from Perry Barr, said if she sees a black cat in the road she will reverse her car, turn round and go back the other way because of the bad luck they bring.

The superstition goes that if a black cat goes across your path you must retrace your steps by 12 paces.

When is comes to Friday the 13th Leon Brown, aged 19, from

Kings Norton, wakes up with a sense of dread.

"I won’t walk anywhere on my own on that day." said Leon. "And full moons bring out the same superstition in me. I never walk under ladders or over drains either."

Mum-of-three Carmel Corlan, from Great Barr, holds onto both her lucky marble and clover extra tight on the 13th and is far more careful with everything she does.

So is Andrew Yates, 44, from Balsall Common, who will try not to travel at all on the day for fear something bad will happen.