The 'ghost of Debenhams' past' has been spotted in a town centre shopping mall - and is causing confusion among staff and customers.

The spooky figure of a 'woman in black' appeared in Ashford's County Square shopping centre over the weekend in an empty space above store Select.

The mannequin was wearing a long dress and a veil covering its face and looked out over the indoor precinct.

But staff in Select - which is next door to the town's now empty Debenhams - say they did not place it there and were unsure who has access to that floor or who would be behind the stunt.

It was also spotted by customer Maggie yesterday, who said: "I was in town around lunchtime and I had just come up the escalator next to the now shut Debenhams when I saw something out the corner of my eye.

"I spotted the mannequin stood on its own in the window display.

"I thought it was a person working but it was a mannequin dressed in a witch's costume.

"Very odd."

Maggie shared images of the mannequin on Facebook, and suggested the choice of outfit was due to it being "in mourning for Debenhams perhaps?"

Others hailed it 'creepy', 'weird' and 'spooky' and one user called it the 'ghost of Debenhams' past'.

Debenhams in Ashford closed on Sunday, January 19 after the company decided to downsize its number of stores.

Branches in Folkestone, Canterbury and Chatham also closed in Kent.

The figure had been removed from the window this morning.

County Square has been approached for a comment.

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