Fright night at Christian Malford inn (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Fright night at Christian Malford inn

7:00am Sunday 7th February 2010 in News By Alana Lewis

A group of ghost hunters had the fright of their lives when they spent a night at The Mermaid Inn in Christian Malford last week.

Eighteen people visited the pub, which is said to be haunted by a young girl, to seek out paranormal activity.

Aldebaran’s Fright Nights organiser Rod Scarth said: “It was an amazing night. At one point there were 14 of us in the room and we all ran out screaming.

“I had green flashing lights around me, and someone said they saw a figure next to me.”

It is believed that the pub, which had to be rebuilt following a fire in 1903, is haunted by a little girl.

Mr Scarth said: “We found out that the little girl is seven years old and called Bethany.”

At one point during the night the group held a seance, and the result was so frightening they fled the room.

Mr Scarth said: “We all turned our torches off and I said if there was anyone there to make a sound.

“There was nothing for a while, but then we heard a noise as if someone was dragging something across the floor above us. We just ran.”

Landlord Gary Matthews said: “The most shocking thing was that I had my legs taken out from behind me. I went cold and my legs felt as if something ran into them.

“Apparently at the same time there was this awful noise that sounded like someone was dragging a big bag of bricks across the floor.”

He added: “I can sit here when the pub is closed and hear the chain of a dog rattle, or footsteps walking along.”

Mr Scarth will return to the inn on February 19.