GHOSTLY goings-on are almost commonplace in many York pubs, but the Red Lion is upping the ante with multiple gory tales - and a picture which staff claim shows a mysterious apparition.

Workers at the historic Merchantgate drinking hole, the foundations of which date back to the 14th century, believe they have been joined by spirits of a non-alcoholic kind.

Spooky sightings have included a blood-soaked female figure hanging from the ceiling of the bottle store, a woman dressed in red upstairs and a man sitting beside the bar fireplace.

Landlady Sue Stewart, 50, said a clairvoyant brought in to look for signs of the supernatural "could not believe her eyes".

She said: "It's right eerie. From the day we moved in here strange things have happened, nothing horrible, but a few things have disappeared.

"There's a chap who stands behind the bar, a man who stands in the corner and my three-year-old grandson keeps speaking to ghosts that no-one else can see."

But joint licensee Ann Whittaker, 51, said no-one has been frightened by the visions and that all the unworldy visitors are "friendly".

And she said friends visiting the pub believe they had caught something on a mobile phone camera as they took random shots of the pub interior.

She said: "They are not frightening at all, but there is definitely something going on. Some people claim to be able to see a figure at the side of the picture."

So next time you are in the Red Lion keep a beady eye on those shadowy corners.

STILL with ghosts, it is our duty to report that a challenge has been set and accepted: spend a night in the Roman Bath.

No, we don't mean a lock-in at the pub. Rather a lock-in at the Eboracum Legion Bathhouse underneath the pub.

Bar Talk has done it before, and managed to make it right through the night (just!), with a little help from some friends. This time the challenge was made by Keith Mulhearn, from the bathhouse, for someone to go it alone... on Hallowe'en.

Keith has also stayed down in the bathhouse with two others, one of whom fell asleep immediately. The two who stayed awake saw and heard "lots" but still managed to stay the whole night. But they wouldn't do it again.

Keith said of his experience: "Like most people, I am not a big believer in ghosts though I cannot explain what I experienced when I spent a night in the bathhouse. It certainly is a very scary and atmospheric place at night and I would be very surprised if an individual could actually manage to stay there alone until morning."

The gauntlet has been swiftly picked up by Steve Hunt, journalist on our sister paper the Gazette and Herald. He is not convinced that there is such a thing as ghosts - yet.

His response to tales of strange happenings in the bathhouse was: "I've been meaning to catch up on my reading recently, and this seemed like an ideal opportunity. If I wind up sharing it with a spectral audience, all the better."

If he really wants to read in the bath, may we suggest some titles? How about The Old Man And The Caesar, Lassie Come Rome or Sense And Seance-ability? Or maybe our personal favourite: Phalanx's Adventures In Wonderland.

BUBBLY landlady Sam Maskill has got up a good head of steam since taking over The Locomotive Pub in Holgate.

Sam, 25, worked as a part-time barmaid at the pub before deciding to take it on when the former owners left.

She is confident of pulling in the punters with a mixture of good beer, live entertainment, tasty pub grub and psychic nights.

"I'm hoping people will give me a chance," she said.

"I've been told by some guys from CAMRA that we serve a good pint of Tetley's.

"I certainly like to drink it myself."

Full steam ahead Sam!

Updated: 09:07 Saturday, September 20, 2003