A PARANORMAL team is appealing for access to Hyndburn's most haunted buildings to carry out investigations into things that go bump in the night.

The Goosebumps Paranormal Research Team is a group of seven members specialising in spooky goings-on and it already has an expanding file of unexplained happenings.

But the members are now keen to get into the old Accrington Conservative Club which they believe has its own ghostly occupants.

The paranormal group was launched by medium Sam Hindle and her husband James, who live in Helmshore. They were quickly joined by another husband-and-wife team, VJ and Faye Chadwick, who live in Walton Street, Altham West.

The team's most memorable investigation so far was at the Hargreaves Arms pub in Accrington, a place they have visited three times and eventually moved on several spirits that were haunting it.

A photograph, taken from the third floor of the building on Manchester Road, shows the faint outline of a young boy's reflection in the window.

On another occasion, Sam's husband, a former sceptic, was filming upstairs in the pub and he calmly asked for any spirits to prove him wrong.

Mother-of-four Sam, 34, said: "All of a sudden a light fitting crashed to the floor by the side of him. The camera jumped and he legged it.

"We go to some pubs where the regulars rip into us and call us the ghost-busters but we had lots of support from everyone at the Hargreaves. A lot of people have seen something there."

Belief

The team is only too aware that many people are unconvinced about the ability to connect with spirits, but mother-of-one Faye, 31, said it's all a matter of belief.

She added: "It depends if you believe or don't believe. I have always believed in it and became a white witch after completing a course.

"I tend to sense things rather than see anything, I have a gift for reading objects and I am a developing medium really."

VJ, 30, said his most unusual experience was while standing in the cellar of Baxenden Conservative Club with one other person while stones were being thrown at them. He said: "Stones were just coming in our direction, they were skimming across the floor.

"I think the spirits want to be noticed as much as we want to find them."

Although the team show no fear when reflecting on their spooky experiences, Sam said many people refuse to believe because they are too scared.

She added: "I truly think there are people who have experienced something, but because they are sceptical they just put it down to their imagination.

"It can be a troubled soul or just a relative that wants loved ones to know they are still around them. Our job is often about putting people's mind at rest and giving closure to resting souls."

Anyone who would like the team to conduct a free investigation should contact Sam on 01706 211837, or email samhindle@hotmail.co.uk or pagan_witch@hotmail.co.uk