RAVES FROM THE GRAVE ON NEW TOUR OF GHOST LOCATIONS

BY CLAIRE DUFFIN

Paranormal investigation is returning to its spiritual home this summer with the start of a new ghost walk in Ashbourne.

Following the success of ghost walks in Derby, Richard Felix, the man behind TV's Most Haunted, is launching a new walk in the historic town.

Mr Felix said he believed Ashbourne was inundated with spirits, including a whole regiment of soldiers who had reportedly been seen at the town's bus station.

But more importantly he said some of the first paranormal investigations ever carried out were held in the town.

"It is such a smashing little town with so much history and so many great stories," he said.

"In the 18th century, Dr Samuel Johnson, the author from Lichfield, came to the town to conduct some of the first paranormal investigations after he was asked to look into incidents involving poltergeists."

Mr Felix, who has been organising ghost walks in Derby for the past 14 years, said he was excited about going back to where it all began.

"This is something I have wanted to do for many years," he added. "I'm so glad I have eventually got round to it and will be able to investigate some of the stories in the town."

During the new three-hour walk, ghost hunters will be taken on a tour of the most haunted places in Ashbourne and told a few spooky tales on the way.

The walks start at the Green Man Inn in St John Street, a 17th-century coaching inn, which Mr Felix said was the most haunted pub in the town.

"Guests have reported hearing a coach and horses, even though there are obviously none about now."

Ghost hunters will also pay a visit to St Oswald's Church to hear a grisly tale about a ghost who haunts the church yard.

Richard said rumour had it that a young woman haunts the area. She was buried alive after doctors thought she had died during childbirth.

A concerned doctor, who was not convinced of her death, later exhumed the body to find the woman's baby had been born in the coffin.

Other haunted stops along the way include the Old Grammar School building, near St Oswald's.

Old boarders said they used to see the ghost of a very thin boy dressed in blue and Mr Felix said he had learned that an old schoolmaster used to starve the boys and keep the food for himself.

"It's a horrible story," he said. "We think the little boy was one of the teacher's victims."

Mr Felix said he was also keen to hear about other paranormal happenings in the town.

He said: "We are always on the lookout for sightings and stories to add to the walks."

The walks will take place every Tuesday night, starting tomorrow and cost £25. Following the walk there will be a candle-lit supper at the Green Man Inn.