Health and safety scarier than ghouls

5:53am Friday 6th July 2007

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Health and safety officials have banned ghost hunters from a castle after dark in case they suffer bumps in the night.

Officials at English Heritage are frightened that members of the British Paranormal Association (BPA) may take a tumble at Bramber Castle, near Steyning.

It is feared the ghostbusters could also trip over tree roots, plunge down potholes or bash themselves on overhanging branches in the dark.

A Heritage spokesman said: "The site has health and safety hazards in the form of steep access, steps to the castle, steep drops on the outer walls and a steep bank to the top of the castle which may be slippery when damp."

But BPA leaders hit back at the ban, blasting: "We think this is disgusting."

The row was triggered after the BPA asked for permission to investigate the site last week.

The event was to herald a new dawn, albeit in the middle of the night, for the organisation as it battles rising costs in the ghost-hunting business due to sites being eager to charge visitors.

Brian Lambert, 38, an office worker from Eastbourne, said: "We have been there before, unofficially, as it's an open site.

But with loads of other people coming along, we thought we'd go through the correct channels.

"It's quite disgusting really. A lot of paranormal clubs have difficulty in getting anywhere to go.

"We decided to set up the BPA to act as a group to try to bring costs down for individual clubs. We do understand venues have to charge a fee but often the small clubs can't cover their high fees or meet the required number of people needed to enter their locations.

"Therefore, the days of just walking around a location taking photos and doing an investigation have long gone."

The first night out for the umbrella group was meant to be at the castle but at the last minute it was switched to Pevensey Courthouse Museum.

Brian said: "The BPA would like to thank keyholder Jeff Dent at the museum for his help at the last minute.

"Hearing the problems we were having trying to get a venue for the BPA to hold the night out, Jeff was more than happy to open his doors and allow us access. He was also a mine of information."

A spokeswoman for English Heritage said: "Bramber Castle in West Sussex is not a suitable site for night-time activities and the organiser did not gain approval for the event from English Heritage.

"There are also some potholes, tree roots and low branches within the ditch and on the motte, hazards which may be missed in the dark."

For more information or to get involved in the BPA, send an email to this address.

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