Ghost hunters are being offered a £100 reward to the first person who can capture a ghost on film.

The owner of historic Groombridge Place, near Tunbridge Wells, has issued the challenge after a visitor to the gardens claimed to have recorded an eerie voice on a family video.

Visitor Sarah Mackessy, from Rochester, filmed her eight-week-old son Mack during a recent visit to the attraction and when she got home and played back the video was shocked to hear a disembodied voice whispering, “I’m alive!” Ms Mackessy said afterwards that there was no one nearby while she was filming. “It was so clear it sounded like there was something right next to me.”

Now Groombridge Place is offering a reward of £100 to the first person who manages to capture the ghost on film. Director Roly Rickcord said: “Groombridge Place has a long history of mystery and magic. The creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, reported seeing the ghost of Dave Fletcher, an ostler who lived in one of the cottages and who drowned in the moat back in 1808. “The formal gardens and Enchanted Forest are magical places where people might see and hear all sorts of things. We can only say, come and see and decide for yourself. There’s a £100 reward for the first sighting of the Groombridge Ghost on film or camera.” There will be more spooky goings on for Halloween at Groombridge this half term (October 24 to November 1), when Dr Syn and his evil companion Megilante will be waiting to entertain visitors with scary stories.

There's also pumpkin carving sessions, face-painting and everyone is encouraged to come in fancy dress, with prizes for the best outfit. Every child visiting the gardens will receive a finger puppet monster.

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