MYSTERY today surrounded the whereabouts of a family who hired a priest to beat them after believing a spirit had possessed them.

Horrified neighbours called police when they heard screams coming from the family's house as the bizarre exorcism took place.

The mother, father and at least two of their grown-up children, are believed to be members of the Islamic Shia sect.

People living in Whitewell Place, Blackburn, said they had become concerned after the family told them they were possessed.

A neighbour said: "The screams coming out of the house were appalling. Whatever was happening in there was painful.

"The priest is thought to have flown in from India or Saudi Arabia to carry out the beatings in a bid to exorcise the spirit.

"To look at these people they are just like you or me and they are very well educated. But in recent weeks they looked very scared.

"They haven't been to their jobs and nobody really knows where they are." The neighbour said the family had also been offering their possessions, such as TVs and hi-fis, for free because the family believed they had spirits inside them.

He added: "The family were just so scared of everything. They even believed their food was poisoned. They even threw all their stuff out.

"We, as their neighbours, wanted to help but they have just been too terrified for anything.

"The whole community is talking about this and we are very concerned for them."

It is thought the family may have moved to another house but neighbours do not know the location.

Yesterday, furniture could be seen in the garden of the terraced home along with other items, including bottles of cleaning fluids, mops and buckets.

All the upstairs windows were open but nobody was in.

It is thought they had been living at Whitewell Place for nearly three years.

Police, who confirmed beatings had taken place by a priest, were revisiting the house yesterday but no action was taken after their initial inquiry.

Today, Blackburn with Darwen councillor Hussain Akhtar said he would try to find the family.

He said: "I have every respect for their faith and we have heard a number of stories about what has happened.

"If I can find them I hope I can talk to them."

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