THE quest is on to find brave souls prepared to spend the night in a reportedly haunted shopping centre.

Over the years there has been a number of cases of paranormal activity in the Castlegate Shopping Centre in Stockton.

Several ghosts have reportedly been seen, heard and felt with strange music and sounds noted during the middle of the night by security officers.

Now, for the first time since the 1970s, disused and abandoned areas are going to be open to the public for an exclusive ghost tour charity event in aid of One Great Day, supporting Great Ormond Street and Middlesbrough & Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.

Karen Eve, centre manager, said: “Castlegate stands on the grounds of a Norman Castle belonging to the Prince-Bishops of Durham dating from the 12th century. It is made up from two buildings, Walker House, which is currently in use and the abandoned Stephenson House where the majority of the terrifying tales have been witnessed.

“The building has been frozen in time since it was deserted in the late 70s. While most of the furniture has been removed, evidence of a once busy workplace is all over."

Guests of the Ghost Tour will be able to visit after hours and take a guided tour of the disused areas, which some staff are even too scared to enter.

Marketing manager Chantal Taylor said: “The building is incredibly eerie and the few people who have already had access, all have very creepy stories to tell.

“The event has been designed to appeal to not only those who are interested in the paranormal but those with an interest of local history.”

Ghost Tours takes place on Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday 20 from 6.30pm through to late night and tickets start from £12.50 at

www.ticketsource.co.uk/thecastlegatecentre