Goings-on from beyond the grave are more common in York and Yorkshire than anywhere in the country, according to a new survey.

According to the Fringe Weird Report, which was compiled by the Rev Lionel Fanthorpe, president of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena, there have been 23 sightings of ghouls in Yorkshire this year, with four of them being in York.

The only other county which comes close is Dorset, with 21 reports. Nationally 227 paranormal events have been recorded since the start of the year.

So far this year, in York city centre, a shuck – or ghostly black dog – was reported doing the doggy-paddle through some of the snickleways that flow with water after heavy rain.

In the same month, April, a young woman carrying a child was reportedly seen along the A64 leading to Malton. It is said they may have been the victim of a highwayman.

The previous month, the ghostly apparition of a cyclist was reportedly spotted cycling around York Minster while an apparition was allegedly seen rowing a boat along the River Ouse.

York, with its long and violent history, has been dubbed the haunted capital of Europe and has attracted many international TV crews in search of sightings.

The Golden Fleece pub was featured on Living TV’s Most Haunted and is allegedly haunted by the spirit of a young boy who is said to have been killed in an accident during the Victorian age. Barley Hall, in Stonegate, is also rumoured to have a couple of uninvited guests.

One is a woman, who is only ever glimpsed leaving a room as people enter it, although the rustling of her clothes can sometimes be heard as she passes and her laughter has occasionally been heard in empty rooms.

The other is known as the “lost boy”. He is linked with several other locations in York and is described as looking shocked to see people and then vanishing as soon as he has been seen.

In all, about 500 phantoms are said to stalk the city.