CUSTOMERS at an historic Flintshire village pub have been sharing their favourite haunt with a friendly spirit.

Laurence and Liz Hughes, who took over the Fox Inn, Ysceifiog, in April, having previously been tenants at the Drovers Arms, Mold, had no need to make special arrangements for Hallowe'en because the pub already has its own spirit in residence.

'We don't know who it is or what its background is, but it's definitely here. Both my daughter, Beverley, and I have experienced its presence and some of our customers have felt it too,' said Liz.

'I've never actually seen anything but I've felt a number of times that I've got company when I know there's no one else here.

'Beverley saw it walk from the cellar to the lounge and didn't take much notice because she thought it was her father. When she discovered he was out at the time, she was quite shaken.

'There have been other signs too -­ sometimes the dogs are extremely wary about walking through the passage. We've been in bed and heard things crash off the wall and a door downstairs slamming.

'Some of our customers have reported odd things as well, like the smell of pipe smoke in and around the ladies' toilet and just a strange feeling they're being watched.'

Liz has no idea who or what the spirit may be, but feels it is not a bad spirit.

'The pub is very old ­ it used to be on the pilgrims' route to Holywell, so it could be something to do with that,' she said.

'We've also heard a story about someone who was working here when the toilets were being built. Apparently he just disappeared one day and no one knows what happened to him. Whatever it is, it's not threatening, it's more puzzling than anything.'

Laurence says running a village pub is something he has always dreamed of doing.

'Everyone here is so friendly,' he said. 'We have no music and no pool table, people just come in to sit round the coal fire and chat, we love it.'