TIME is up for spirits in a haunted Leyland pub as ghostbusters make a return visit to uncover the truth behind rumours of bumps in the night!

As the town's oldest boozer The Eagle and Child pub, in Church Road, is believed to be full of spirits -- and not just of the alcoholic kind!

Now the former court house -- which dates back to the 17th century -- has attracted the attention of ghost hunters Phoenix Paranormal who are determined to seek out the spooks.

The Cheshire-based investigators first visited the listed building last year as part of a Channel 5 television series 'Haunted Britain'.

The team were so intrigued by the supernatural activities they are planning to return to the pub to take a second look.

Linda Roach, who is the manager/licensee of the Eagle and Child, said: "The pub is a former court house and is thought to date back to at least 1610, so who knows what could be hidden here."

Customers and staff have many ghost stories and spooky tales to tell according to Linda.

She said: "I have been present when glasses have moved -- with real vengeance -- off the shelves or from one side of the room to another."

According to the mum-of-two, the ghostbusters believe this phenomenon is caused by one ghost who haunts the bar of the pub. "Apparently a man is standing at the bar waiting to be served but I can't see him," said Linda. "The bell has rung a few times on its own though."

Geoff Stanley, a member of Phoenix Paranormal, is confident the group will have plenty to keep them busy. He said: "We want to go back with an infra-red camera and take photographs of ghosts -- dead people and animals. I think there is a lot of activity in the cellar and the outhouse which we have to explore."

Since starting up six years ago the group have conducted more than 40 ghostbusting investigations in the North West including Slade Hall, in Manchester.

"We see people walking through walls," said Geoff. "If a traumatic event happened in a building, such as a sword fight or a tragedy where people died suddenly, the bricks and mortar contain silica which record the event -- this is known as the stone wall theory."

But Linda, who took over the pub from her 67-year-old husband Eddie, following his retirement two years ago, says she is ambivalent over sharing her pub with those from beyond the grave.

"It doesn't bother me much but I have to clean up the broken glass and turn off the pumps. Sometimes the lights refuse to go on," she said.