Is there a ghost at Darlington library?

Staff found the old door to the library's historic reference collection store in the basement was locked.

This meant staff were unable to get books and stock for customers with many left "scratching their heads as to why we couldn't open the door".

Here is where it gets even spookier, the Facebook post said no one at the library has ever known there to be a key.

The Facebook post added: "No key in the building opens it.

No staff member has ever known there to be a key for the door (Image: DARLINGTON LIBRARIES)

"It’s been that way for as long as anyone can remember - some staff have worked here for over 40 years!

"After several failed attempts with every key we could find, and after bashing our hips against the door several times, the council joiner was called in to cut through the lock."

But this is when the situation gets even more interesting.

According to the joiner, the door was locked, and could only have been locked using a key.

They said it was not a case of the the handle slipping and it was not a mechanical fault with the door. They said the the lock had been turned and locked properly.

A council joiner said the door could have only been locked using a key (Image: DARLINGTON LIBRARIES)

The post added: "So naturally we opened the door expecting to find… something. A person. A forgotten staff member from 1987. A pile of overdue books plotting revenge.

"But no. The room was completely empty. (We even checked between the rolling stacks looking for small Borrowers!)."

The library said all of the above means there is now only one logical explanation for the door mysteriously being locked.

"The library ghost has returned and is trying to protect the reference collection," staff said.

"On the bright side, at least they respect the importance of historic archival materials."

The library joked that if any members of the public noticed books re-shelving themselves, to please let them know.