If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who are you going to call? Herne Bay’s very own ghostbuster, of course.

Ghoul hunter Kevin Joyce says he is on a mission to find out what is lurking in the shadows of one of the town’s most-famous landmarks.

The 47-year-old says he has been called to investigate paranormal activity at The Kings Hall.

The former carpenter is about to launch The Unit Paranormal Investigations, which will give people guided tours of the hall, starting later this month.

He said: “A lot of activity happens around here. Some people have seen a man in an undertaker’s hat at the bar.

“Others have seen a woman walking around, and dark shadows walking up the stairs. A staff member was walking down the stairs when she felt there was something behind her.

“When she turned around and saw the outline of a figure disappearing, she legged it. It scared the life out of her.

“I don’t know who the spirits are, but it is my job to find out by looking back into the history to see if I can piece it together.”

Mr Joyce says he has always been fascinated by the presence of spirits moving among us, and will team up with the Guiding Angels mediums in Herne Bay.

He says the site could be haunted by characters such as a former soldier who committed suicide behind the stage, as well as spirits from the former Napoleonic War gun position.

But he says the spirits are unlikely to be nasty and added: “The best thing to do is to ask the spirit to leave. If they are a decent spirit they do things like that.”

He said the decision to set up the business came after a lifetime of haunting experiences of his own, having seen a ghost for the first time when he was seven.

He said: “I can always remember it being pitch black when I was lying in bed. I saw a black figure straight through the doorway. I spent the night under the duvet.

“Later somebody reported seeing a black figure running across a park. From the description it seemed the same as what I saw.”

Later, Kevin says he discovered a Roman skeleton near Reculver when he was 12, and saw the outline of a silvery spirit while fishing with his friend in Marshside when he was 15.

He said The Unit Paranormal Investigations will soon be up and running, with the first guided tour due to take place on August 27, with a buffet included.