GHOSTLY figures of laughing children, weeping women, brave war pilots and boozy smugglers are all said to haunt the historic buildings of Wearside.
Indeed paranormal investigators were called in by staff at the North East Aircraft Museum earlier this year, after a string of ghostly goings-on.
And, just a few months ago, huge publicity surrounded sightings of Lily of Lumley by the Australian cricket team during their stay at Lumley Castle.
Sue Scott, a ghost hunter for the past 20 years, said: "Believing in life after death is a very personal thing. I suppose you could say I'm a sceptical believer.
"I believe there is something more to it, more than what we understand at the moment. There just isn't the technology available to explain exactly what."
One of the most bizarre ghostly legends is that of the Easington Hare – a mischievous animal who led hunters on long chases before turning into an old woman.
But perhaps the best known of Wearside's ghosts is the Cauld Lad of Hylton – thought to be the spirit of a stable boy slain at the castle in the 16th century.
"I did my first 'sponsored spook' in Hylton Castle way back in the early 1980s and, although we didn't find the Cauld Lad, we did experience something strange that night," said Sue.
"One of the participants was found in a trance-like state outside, lying with his eyes wide open staring at the stars. After we managed to wake him, he thought we were joking."
Sue, 42, an off-shore helicopter administrator from Shotton Colliery, is a founder member of the ­Mysteries of the North Paranormal Investigation Team.
"I was a bit sceptical at first, I used to wonder if the strange things were in people's imaginations, but I am more open to it now," she said.
"I don't think that everything people experience is paranormal. I do think people will sometimes jump to conclusions as they just want to believe."
Spiritual visitors have been reported in dozens Wearside pubs, museums, hotels and buildings – and even at a dog rescue centre in County Durham.
But American magician James Randi is so sceptical about most paranormal reports that he has issued a $1million challenge to find proof.
Anyone who can provide evidence of the paranormal can collect the cash – but no-one in the 41 years since the challenge was issued has yet managed it.
Sue said: "There is a famous saying – 'Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence' – which I tend to agree with.
"Just because we can't find any proof that something has happened, it doesn't mean it hasn't happened. We just have to keep on investigating."
* Visit the Mysteries Of The North website at www.mysteriesofthenorth.co.uk.



North East Aircraft Museum, Washington Road, Sunderland
THE museum is built on the site of RAF Usworth – a training ground for pilots before and during World War Two.
"The area around the museum had more than its fair share of crash landings, partly due to inexperienced pilots and partly due to bad visibility caused by fog," said Sue.
Museum staff called in paranormal investigators earlier this year after a string of reports about strange occurrences.
"During baseline tests I found some unusual readings which could not be explained by natural sources such as electrical cables etc," said Sue.
"The investigation showed the premises as so active that it was decided to hold Ghost Watch events to raise money for the museum."
The all-night Ghost Watch will be held on November 26. Anyone wanting to take part should contact the museum.

Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street
THE castle was built at the turn of the 15th century by Sir Ralph Lumley and sits on the site of a Manor House, which dated back to 1300.
Although the castle is still owned by the Lumley family, it has been used as a hotel since 1983, with both the rooms and staff adorned in period style.
"Maybe this is the reason why its most famous ghost, Lily of Lumley, feels that time hasn't forgotten her," said Sue.
Lily, the first wife of Sir Ralph, was an ardent follower of the church reformer Wycliffe. But, while her husband was away on business, some catholic priests tried to bring her "back into the fold."
In an effort to save her soul, the priests killed her and threw her body down a well within the castle walls. She is said to still haunt the old building today.

Souter Lighthouse, South Shields
THE lighthouse, which was investigated by Living TVs Most Haunted show, is said to house several ghosts.
It is believed to be haunted by a lighthouse keeper, a lady, and a pitman who worked at the nearby mine. Loud bangs and footsteps have been heard.

Hylton Castle, Sunderland
THE castle is one of Sunderland's most famous haunted buildings and its ghost, the Cauld Lad, is believed to have caused many a disturbance over the years.
The ghost is said to be the spirit of stable boy Robert Skelton, who was killed after being caught napping by Baron Robert Hylton. He struck the boy with a pitchfork, killing him instantly.
Like all good poltergeists, the Cauld Lad's favourite pastime was throwing dishes, plates and pewter, but this only happened if the Hylton kitchen had been left in a tidy state.
A lady who lived in the castle when it was last inhabited in 1905 alleged that the noisy goings on were so distracting that sleep was impossible in the room where the murder took place.
"After the remains of his murdered body were found in a nearly beck and given a proper burial, his visits ceased," said Sue Scott.

Marsden Grotto, South Shields
THIS unique pub is built into the cliff caves at Marsden and was once a popular watering hole for smugglers.
One smuggler was shot dead while trying to escape arrest by a customs man. For many years his tankard was left on the bar full of ale each night and would be empty the next morning.
The ghost of Peter Allan, the first pub landlord, is said to haunt the inn, as does his wife Lizzie. Other apparitions include a black and white cat, a smuggler and Peter's daughter Margaret.
"I did a sponsored spook at the pub in July 2004 when some interesting video footage was captured in front of the bar. We believe that it may well have been that of Lizzie," said Sue.

Washington Old Hall
THE Old Hall, the ancestral home of America's first president George Washington, is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a grey lady, who walks the corridors of the upper floor and is sometimes seen weeping.
The apparition is said to have been spotted several times when the manor house was used as a tenement block – mostly by children. No-one knows who she is, or why she is crying.
Other ghostly goings-on include a strong smell of lavender perfume reported in the entrance hall and the figures of children seen playing on the stairs.
The manor house may also be home to a spirit who enjoys watching the wedding ceremonies, as well as a little old lady who sits in a rocking chair.

The Easington Hare
LEGEND has it that the strange little creature was hunted on numerous occasions throughout the countryside near Easington – but always managed to escape.
Finally a hound managed to bite the leg of the hare just before it escaped into a hole in the wall of a nearby ruined building.
The huntsmen followed the animal and, to their astonishment, could only find an old woman nervously bandaging her bleeding leg.
Beamish Hall, County Durham
THE hotel started life as a farmhouse back in the 13th century and boasts a number of ghosts, the most famous being the Grey Lady.
She was the lover of one of the gentry who lived at Beamish Hall, however she had been promised to someone else by her father.
On the day of her wedding, she ran away to Beamish Hall in search of her lover. To avoid being tracked down, she hid in the hall's dungeon in a casket.
Unfortunately she locked herself in and, unable to escape, perished where she hid. She is said to walk the corridors of Beamish Hall still searching for her lover.

Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
CHILLINGHAM is reputed to be one of the most haunted castles in Britain and its' most famous ghost is that of the Radiant Boy, who haunts one of the bedrooms.
After a child's bones were found in that bedroom, the ghost went quiet for a while. However, in recent years he has started to make an appearance again.


Local spooks and where to find them

* Greggs in Sea Road, Fulwell: Spooked staff kettles boiling by themselves, as well as banging and clashing in the staff changing rooms and a smell of lavender. The ghost is thought to be an old lady.
* The Dogs Trust, Sadberge, Darlington: Once the site of a hanging tree and the scene of many deaths.
* The Empire Theatre: The bar area is said to be haunted by the White Lady. Internet claims are also rife that the ghost of Sid James stalks the building.
* Newcastle Keep: Unusual lights, fluctuations in temperature and electromagnetic fields, footsteps and voices have all been recorded during paranormal investigations.
* The Copt Hill pub, Houghton: A former landlord hanged himself from a beam in the bar and customers have claimed to have seen his dangling body.
* The Three Horse Shoes at Usworth: Mysterious hammerings reported on the toilet doors, while burglar alarms have been triggered.
* Crook Hall, Durham: Haunted by the ghost of the White Lady, said to be the niece of the fiery tempered Cuthbert Billingham. Many people, including visitors, have reported to her presence.
* The Sun Inn, Beamish: Haunted by Wandering Willie, who hanged himself after a broken love affair. He moved with the pub when it was taken from Bishop Auckland and rebuilt at the museum.


Plenty in store for trick-or-treaters

THERE doesn't appear to be an exact moment in time when someone decided to celebrate Hallowe'en.
Many religions over the years have had some kind of "spooky celebration" – Druids, Celts, pagans, Romans, Greeks, Romans and we Brits. The common theme is that it is a tribute to the dead.
Nowhere in the modern world do people celebrate the event like they do in America and, over the past few years, the Hallowe'en market has really started to "come alive" in the UK too.
A plethora of costumes, accessories and fun food are scarily making Hallowe'en as big as Christmas.
* If you fancy celebrating, Asda has some screamingly low buys for the bairns – a straw broom, 63p, child's trident, 24p, scream masks, £4.97, witch costume, £6, small pumpkin, 88p and child's fangs, 9p.
Then there's their Little Devil costume (includes headband and arm cuffs) £10.00 3-13 years.
As ever ,George at Asda has a fantastic and fun range of costumes that will ensure those little ghouls have a night of endless tricks and treats. Gruesomely great costumes include the wicked witch costume £6, complete with a pink orange and red netting skirt and a black cape .
Want a bit more sparkle? Go for the girl's Devil costume £10, with a bright red skirt, arm cuffs and devil's horns headband to match.
The fiendish vampire costume is £8 and the spooky skeleton pirate outfit £10, complete with red and black stripy trousers and cobwebbed cape.
For the younger ones there is the spookiest spider costume complete with eight creepy crawly legs or plump pumpkin starting at only £5.
* Next has a magical purple witch's outfit with satin bodice and organza skirt that comes with a pointy witch's hat, price £15.99.
And there's also a frighteningly frightful Glow in the Dark Scream Machine, £9 with remote control handset. It can be attached to flat surfaces using suckers on the back and includes five screaming sounds for maximum scares.
* Marks & Spencer casts a magical spell on Hallowe'en this year with a 'fang-tastic' collection of kids dress up costumes, accessories and fun party food.
Bewitch in fabulous black and purple velour dresses with matching cat hat and even a broomstick to complete the look. Wizards will mystify while mixing their potions dressed in black and orange velour hat and cape with lizards crawling out of their pockets.
The spooky glow-in-the-dark Skelton costume with an inbuilt scary sound chip will send shivers down the spine and the little red and orange devil cape guarantees a cheeky look. For that extra fright factor check out the gruesome accessories such as the squidgy bat and spider, orange pumpkin bag, broomstick, face mask and devil's fork – all excellent value at £5 or less.
Trick-or-treating has never been so much fun with a net of chocolate cats, bats and rats or the tub of spooky chocolates to share with tasty delights including ghosts and eyeballs. Novelty witch's hats are equally scrumptious, filled with troublesome toffee popcorn or individually wrapped chocolates and marshmallows.
Tuck into a spooky feast of smoky bacon flavoured Witch's Brains, Witch's Fingers Sponge Rolls and Spider's Web Tray Bake Cake.
Treat tub, £4.99, Frog Hat £5, Spell Cape £10.
* And if you take your hound trick or treating there's devillish outfits for dogs too at £4.99 from Pets At Home – one size fits all.