GYM coaches who believe their premises are haunted are staging a spook ghost night in a bid to connect with spiritual world, while raising funds for their facilities at the same time.

Lynn Hope, head coach at Northern Hope Gymnastics Centre in Birtley Business Centre, Station Lane, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, says she is convinced they have a resident ghost.

She called in medium and spiritualist Suzanne Gill who claims the gym has not only one, but three ghosts.

Mrs Hope said. “I have seen a man three times since we have moved in.

“On one occasion I was on scaffolding and dropped a spanner and saw what I thought what was my husband waking past.

“I shouted down will you throw me that spanner up when I heard my husband's voice from other end of room saying 'what are you talking about I’m here'.

“When I looked down there was nothing there.”

Mrs Hope said on two other occasions young children had spoken of their alarm of a man watching them, when nobody was there.

She added that the ghost could be that of a Belgian worker who died during the First World War in what was then the Royal Ordnance Factory.

The gym, which is a registered charity, needs £14,000 to complete a a pit to allow disabled people to use a trampoline.

The ghost night will be held from 10pm on Saturday (June 28) to 4am on Sunday (June 29).

Tickets are £25 each. For further information contact 0191-410 7987.