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Hallowe'en is creeping up on us + VIDEO
Alison Ghoul-ding decides to tackle one of Wearside's most haunted hotspots.
It is dark, rainy and miserable as I zip towards the North East Aircraft Museum – perfect weather for what we're about to do.
Myself, Echo pals Georga Spottiswood and Ross Robertson, assorted friends, museum manager Keith Davison and paranormal expert Mike Hallowell are about to see if we can spot some spooks.
True to form I'm pretty terrified, because ghosts and spirits fit into my mental filing cabinet labelled "Things that could hurt me."
It's not my first time though.
Three years ago I went to my debut ghost hunt in West Auckland at The Manor House Hotel, believed to be the former hunting lodge of Henry VIII.
We thought we'd hit the jackpot as we heard a ghostly clip-clopping coming towards us.
But what we assumed was the spectral mount of a long-dead king proved to be a real-life flesh and blood neddy and the night descended into chaos as our group collided with the owners who were attempting to round it up with a 4x4.
Denied seeing a phantom horse, my faith was shaken, but tonight I am getting a fresh chance to roll around in the spiritual mists.
Our party is led by museum manager Keith Davison, who also heads Ghost Haunted, the resident investigation team.
And happily, the starting point is the warm and cosy gift shop.
But things don't stay light for long.
Keith shows us his photographs of sightings from around the museum,
including what appears to be a little girl, various faces in orbs and a death mask.
We learn that Czech spies, Alsatian dogs and menacing groundsmen are all a possibility.
Suitably weirded out, we begin our search in the main hangar, creeping between the ghostly silhouettes of planes and clinging to our torches.
The thought of all the military people who once trained at the Usworth base is enough to have us mildly terrorised.
Keith points out various sighting spots and areas where the room is known to go hot and cold depending on the presence or absence of spirits.
Many of the spirits he tells us about have names but frankly this makes me feel no better. A ghost called George is still a ghost.
We huddle together near a giant helicopter as Keith calls out to the spirits.
"Don't worry about staying away because of the girls," he shouts, "They're not scared of you."
"Not technically true," I think privately, while chewing my hair and batting my eyelashes. I figure that if I look female enough and scared enough the bleeders might stay away all together.
Georga is a tougher cookie, donning headgear that magnifies the slightest bump and knock. Ms Spottiswood also handles the divining rods with panache.
She is not afraid at all... she loves it, the ghosts are her pals.
I am jealous, but not enough to give up my fear.
We hear some funny noises but nothing conclusive so move outside.
Keith shows us the corner of a building where there's a spirit that regularly pops his head out.
Ross spots him straight away but after 10 minutes of squinting I'm not sure if I've seen it or just convinced myself there's something there.
Towards the end of the night I feel like I'm getting hypothermia and figure that if the spirits don't get me then a lack of circulation might.
Unfortunately, any degree of discomfort brings out my naughty side and I instantly revert to acting like a toddler.
For the finale we stand around one of the planes and place our hands on it.
Then Keith asks the spirit that haunts the plane to show its presence and vibrate the whole thing.
I can't help myself and start furiously shoving the plane while stifling my laughter.
"I felt it move!" shouts Georga from the other side while I stuff my scarf into my mouth to stop me from cackling.
After my shameful behaviour it is time to go home.
I sense that the group are quite near to locking me in the museum and leaving me to my fate so opt for a hasty exit.
So while I scored a zero for ghosts, ghouls and spirits, I still had a great deal of fun.
It is only afterwards after a chat with Mike Hallowell that I realise I have broken all the cardinal rules of ghost-hunting. I went with a big group, I had a laugh, and I didn't use the value of silence.
Third time lucky?
* Ghost Haunted are holding a special Scream at the NEAM night for Hallowe'en tomorrow from 7pm.
To book a place or to arrange a ghost hunt at the North East Aircraft Museum, call Keith Davison on 07706850079.
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Weather for Sunderland
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
