Mark hunts for ghostly spirits at pub

9:26am Tuesday 24th October 2006

WHISKY, rum and gin may not be the only spirits available at the Red Lion, according to Swindon-born ghost hunter Mark Webb who is heading to the Avebury pub to find them.

Mr Webb, who has been a paranormal investigator on ITV's Haunted Homes programme, is joining a search at the v illage pub on Friday, November 3.

"There's apparently a lady there called Florrie," Mr Webb said.

"Her husband went away to war and came back and found her in bed with another man.

"He murdered her and threw her down the well."

Former security guard Mr Webb, 29, has invited up to 30 people to come along to investigate the haunting.

Armed with hi-tech ghost-detecting gadgetry, Mr Webb said the group would shut themselves in to the hotel just before midnight in the hope of picking up evidence of paranormal activity and possibly a sight of Florrie.

Mr Webb has been a professional ghost hunter for more than two years, first appearing on television as an expert in reality TV show I'm Famous and Frightened.

From there, he has set up his own company running ghost spotting nights and haunted tours.

But it all started with a story from a friend.

"My wife came home one day and a friend had been to a home where there was a ghost," he said.

Mr Webb went along to see for himself.

"I saw what I thought was a ghost.

"Then every weekend I was off around the country going to ghost haunts."

Mr Webb said ghosts did not appear as the spooky, shroud-covered spirits popular in cartoons and movies.

They are much more lifelike.

"Everything I have seen has been like looking at somebody being there," Mr Webb said.

"I have seen a 15th Century cavalier.

"It was about 2.30am and the house was locked and he appeared.

"We do bits and pieces for our own research and we have started inviting members of the public to come along," Mr Webb said.

"There's a big interest from the public.

"Swindon seems to have its fair share of stories.

"I have been to the Red Lion at Avebury but it's always been interesting down there.

"The first time I went we had some chandeliers move. We work through the night.

"The reason we do it at night is because there's not usually many people roaming around late at night.

"If you heard footsteps you would know it's not someone walking around."

Anyone interested in joining the ghost hunt should visit www. mark-webb.com

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