GHOSTLY goings on are leaving visitors spellbound at a medieval manor house.

As with any historic attraction worth its salt, Crook Hall, in Durham, boasts its own resident ghost.

Tales of the paranormal have descended down the generations following blood-curdling episodes in the rich history of the 13th Century-built hall, which lies on the banks of the River Wear, in attractive walled gardens little more than half-a-mile from Durham city centre.

One story tells of a hushed-up incident in which a visiting soldier was killed in a row over the lady of the hall and was buried behind a bricked up alcove.

Staff serving at a wedding reception once refused to work in that part of the hall because they said there was something eerie in the air.

The most popular tale is that the most regularly reported apparition, The White Lady. She was a niece of Cuthbert Billingham, who inherited the hall in 1615.

Spotted at frequent intervals, mainly in the Jacobean room, the spectre is said to have been responsible for the upturning of tables laid out for a banquet.

Boys working in a nearby colliery gave the hall a wide berth heading to and from the mine because of the stories of the supernatural.

Sceptical owners Keith and Maggie Bell, who have opened the doors of the manor to visitors during the past three summer seasons, were happy to recount tales of the ghostly apparitions to visitors as part of the guided tour.

Waitress Natasha Van Leempoel takes time out from working in the hall's cafeteria and kitchens to appear as the White Lady at given intervals in the tour.

But Maggie said she is becoming a convert to the cause after a couple of close encounters of the supernatural kind while escorting parties round the family home.

"I never really believed in it, but to add a little colour I tell people the various stories during the tour.

"They have been handed down and you do get a little dubious because these places all seem to come with similar stories of ghosts. But, on one of the first tours we did, we got into the hall and as we reached the climax of the story, plaster began to fall from the ceiling on to the table.

"I've never known that to happen before or since and it made me wonder if we should carry on.

"There was another occasion when I was up in the gallery with a group down in the hall below. I was telling them about the White Lady when I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and I literally jumped.

"I assumed it was someone from the tour messing around and having a bit of fun to give me a fright.

"But I turned round and there was no-one there. Not wanting to frighten the party I just carried on with my talk. Later on though a woman in the party approached me and said 'that was the White Lady, wasn't it?'

The legends have spark-ed occasional Ghost Tours. During the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, Crook Hall will host a Ghost Week, for children, during the half-term holiday from June 2 to 9. Crook Hall is off Sidegate in Durham and opens at Easter and throughout most of the summer, except Saturdays