Ghost-hunting youngsters went to Britain’s spookiest area on a Bank Holiday trip expecting to be frightened by things that went bump in the night.

But instead the Rainham teenagers were terrified by a thing that went bang - a double-barrelled shotgun.

After a night of strolling through Dering Woods – known as screaming woods – between Smarden and Pluckley, they came across a van which had been involved in an accident.

But when they stopped to report it to police they spooked a local farm owner who fired his shotgun!

Now a jury has decided that Oliver Anning – who admitted firing the weapon twice – was not guilty of possessing the weapon intending to cause fear of violence to the group.

“I went out with the dogs again and I shined the torch but they didn’t go away and on my own land I fired a couple of shots and said: ’Go away’ out of stress" - Mr Anning

The 46-year-old independent finance manager - who runs Park Farm to help autistic adults – told Canterbury Crown Court how he had heard noises nearby and feared the farm was under attack.

Two of the youngsters, James Sparks and Amber Mason claimed they heard THREE shots and James said he saw the weapon being lowered towards him.

But Anning said he fired the gun twice AWAY from James' car which had stopped in Smarden Bell Road near the entrance to his home while James called police to report the van.

The farm owner was arrested after the incident in August last year and told officers he was looking after a neighbour’s property while they were away.

The jury heard he was distressed for the safety of his farm and his neighbour’s home after hearing voices and seeing car lights in a driveway.

He told police: “Obviously there was no intent to hurt. I was just protecting the properties I suppose really.

“I went out early with the dogs and then came back in again. Then another car appeared and the horn was tooted.”

He told police he had been pestered by youngsters the previous two evenings and felt threatened.

“I went out with the dogs again and I shined the torch but they didn’t go away and on my own land I fired a couple of shots and said: ’Go away’ out of stress.

“I was on my own there was no intention to harm and only two shots were fired.”

He was asked what he had felt about his actions and told the officer: “Terrible, sir. I’m embarrassed, sir. I’m ashamed of myself, sir. I really... I’m gutted, sir.

“There was no intent to harm at all. I didn’t fire in their direction... I’ve been a pillar of the community.

"I look after scouts. I help Duke of Edinburgh guts and we’ve helped 50, 60, maybe 70 autistic students every week on the farm.”

James, 18, told the court he was with a number of friends who travelled to the forest in a an MG, an Audi and a BMW because they heard that the woods were haunted.

While they were parked and walking around in the early hours of the morning they saw a man in a van acting strangely before leaving after spinning his wheels.

He said they later saw the same van abandoned in the road which had been in a crash and pulled over to call the police.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor said that it was while James was on the phone talking with an operator he reported the gunfire and felt twigs from an oak tree landing on the vehicle.

He was told to leave the area and meet up with officers nearby. His friend Amber, 18, told the jury how she lay down in the back of the car after hearing gunfire.

After the acquittal, Anning’s barrister – who was privately funded – asked for his costs to be paid – but Judge Adele Williams said she had no power to make an order.

She added: “But in my opinion he brought this prosecution on himself.”

The judge said that despite being found not guilty there is likely to be an investigation by the firearms licensing authority.

Anning has held a firearms license for 15 years without any previous incident.