Investigators checking pub's spirit level

GHOSTLY goings on are being investigated at a former Paignton seafront pub.

A team of paranormal investigators has moved in at the Lighthouse after several 'strange things' were felt and seen in the former pub.

David Phillips, co-founder of the Torbay Investigators of the Paranormal group, who is leading a team of 15 people, said many people had reported feeling a presence in the pub.

He said: "We've been inside the pub twice already. This is an on-going investigation.

"We were contacted by two different people who had strong experiences.

"They've seen figures. Objects have been moved inexplicably. Doors have opened by themselves."

Mr Phillips, 46, from Paignton, who started the group 15 years ago, said his team of mediums had also picked up on several 'presences' inside the Lighthouse pub.

He added: "One of our mediums felt the presence of someone who tried to hang themselves in there. This person was rescued by members of staff but ended up killing their rescuer.

"Someone else in our group felt like they were being strangled. It would be interesting to find verification of all this activity."

The paranormal group has been investigating several places said to be haunted in and around the Bay including Churston Court, Berry Pomeroy castle and Dartmouth castle.

Mr Phillips, who is a technical investigator rather than a medium, said: "The paranormal is something I've always been interested in. I've been buying books on the subject for years. Everywhere I go on holidays, I buy books on haunted places.

"When I came down to Torbay I was quite excited to live near such a haunted place as Berry Pomeroy castle. It's one of the most haunted places in England."

The group uses cameras, and digital recording equipment to try and capture ghosts and other paranormal activities.

Mediums also try to feel or see the spirit world and the information is then recouped to see if it can be explained or not.

Mr Phillips said: "We've got a psychic artist who can see and draw dead people.

"When we went to Dartmouth castle he made contact with one of the ghosts and drew it after picking up on his energy."

The Lighthouse pub on Paignton seafront was built in the 1920s on land reclaimed from the sea.

Mr Phillips said that if there were any ghosts or spirits there they would be attracted by the water which needs to be pumped out of the cellar because of the energetic properties of water.

Mark Wilkins, chairman of the Devon Music Collective which is taking over the Lighthouse to turn it into a new alcohol-free music venue, said: "A few people have reported strange things in the place.

"We've had two people who used to work here 10 years ago who said they saw something strange.

"One person said he would never set foot inside the Lighthouse ever again.

"I'm a sceptic but I'm happy for the paranormal investigators to come in. I want to be proved wrong."