REGULARS at a Leyland pub are sharing the bar with a different kind of spirit - the sort that goes bump in the night.

Three ghosts are believed to have made the Halfway House, Preston Road, Clayton-le-Woods, their home.

Two of them are friendly, but the third, who staff have nicknamed Sid, is more mischievous.

Assistant manager Paul Hayes said: "People have felt his presence in the cellar. He turns lights on and off and once said 'excuse me' or made a noise which sounded like that.

"Sid is the sort of ghost you don't want to spend too much time around - his presence makes you want to leave." Another ghost has been heard stamping up the stairs to the manager's flat, and is also known to rattle things.

And a third has been 'seen' sitting in a bay window.

Paul added: "In the 1700s and 1800s this building used to be a coaching house, where all sorts of antics are supposed to have happened. That could explain why we have these ghosts now."

They first became apparent six or seven weeks ago - and the fact that the pub may be about to undergo a refurbishment may have something to do with it. Paul said: "We are trying to find out as much as we can about them so we can chart the history of this building on the walls after the refurbishment.

"Any extra information would be greatly appreciated.

"Customers have no need to worry because the ghosts seem only to bother the staff."

If you have any information about the pub's past, call Paul on 334477.

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