GHOST hunters took part in a spooky paranormal workshop at an historic East Lancashire hotel.

The Grant Arms Hotel, in Ramsbottom, hosted a paranormal evening with a twist.

Streamed live on to the internet, Manchester-based Further on Paranormal, visited the Market Place hotel and took 16 people on a hair-raising ghost hunt on Monday night.

After a quick introduction to the paranormal world, the guests were split into teams of four ready for the ghost hunt.

Hotel landlord Warren Smith said: “I’ll be honest I am a sceptic, but there was a lot of things I can not explain that couldn’t have been trickery.

For example, a lot of people reported seeing a man called Alan and a woman called Helen.

“There was also a lot of activity affecting the cameras. I wouldn’t be surprised in the hotel is haunted because it is steeped in history.”

According to Mr Smith, murderer Harold Shipman was rumoured to have visited the hotel before he was imprisoned, to treat a patient.

Mr Smith also claimed that Shipman, who worked in Todmorden for a period, may have even killed the guest at the hotel but police have never found any hard evidence to back up the claim.

Child killer Ian Brady, also visited the hotel and hosted a Sportsman’s dinner, he said.

Shipman was jailed in 2000 for 15 murders but is among the most prolific serial killers in recorded history with 218 murders being positively ascribed to him.

Brady carried out the notorious 1960s Moors Murders with Myra Hindley in what is now known as Greater Manchester. Further on Paranormal, had two mediums within the team and uses glass work and spirit boards to speak to the dead.

Todd Hand Lowe, a member of Further on Paranormal said: “Most of the activity was picked up in bedroom seven and the attic which used to be the servants quarters. The event was really successful and something different for a Monday evening.

We thought the event would finish at midnight but we didn’t end up wrapping up until 4am.” The Grant Arms, was built in the 16th century for bosses in the industrial revolution.

It was extended in 1828 by William and Daniel Grant, brothers who were friends with Charles Dickens.