It’s long been legend that spirits of the alcoholic kind are not the only ones resident at some market town pubs on the outskirts of Bradford.

Now a small group of paranormal investigators, armed with a oujia board and modern technical equipment, are researching just what ghouls haunt the Old White Horse, Brown Cow and surrounding areas of Bingley.

The Pennine Paranormal Society (PPS) is also working with Skipton historian Malcolm Hanson, who is researching a book on the town’s history, by communicating with the spirit of a boy who calls himself ‘Jo’ and is present at the White Horse.

Mr Hanson takes information from Jo, researches it and returns with follow-up questions. He is tight-lipped about what he has found so far, but said it is “incredibly exciting.”

“It’s turned into a really fascinating story about Knights of the Templar and all sorts of things in the area,” he said.

PPS takes its investigations seriously, but also looks at common sense causes for people’s spooky experiences. The group uses traditional methods, such as oujia boards, alongside modern ghost hunting tools including Electro Voice Phenomenon recorders, Electro Magnetic Field meters, laser guided thermometers and a laser ghost grid which fills a room with a laser starfield to aid detection of unusual movements and shadows.

The group, consisting of Si Booth, Gill Smillie, Sue Sharpe, Kevin Robinson and Chris Whitehouse, is aware its work may be viewed with scepticism, but stresses it does not profit from people’s vulnerability or seek to sensationalise.

Mr Booth said they have found Bingley to be “spook central”.

“There’s some very exciting stuff going on where the cemetery is. There’s the Library Taps – I know that they had activity. The Queens did, in fact in The Fleece a lady from the 80s came through,” he said.

At the Old White Horse, in Old Main Street, 26 ghosts are said to be resident. The group has done eight investigations at the Old White Horse and last week did its first probing at the Brown Cow when two spirits made contact.

Mr Hanson will reveal his findings at a ghost walk on Wednesday, July 17, starting at the Old White Horse.

Call (01756) 798730 or e-mail Malcolm.b.hanson@gmail.com to book a place.