Help Bradford on Avon woman solve spooky goings-on (From Wiltshire Times)

Help Bradford on Avon woman solve spooky goings-on

5:00pm Sunday 9th January 2011 in Latest News By James Williams

A Bradford on Avon woman, who was just 18 when she started her own paranormal investigation group, is looking for new recruits to solve mysteries across the county.

Hayley Stevens, who is now 23 and describes herself as a sceptic paranormal researcher, started Wiltshire Phenomena Research (WPR) in 2005.

The group has investigated more than 50 cases in the past six years, including UFO sightings, out-of-place animals, and alleged hauntings.

The 23-year-old, who describes the group as ‘Scooby Doo meets Jonathan Creek’, is now looking for new recruits to help her get to the bottom of some unsolved paranormal activities.

She said: “A lot of reported oddities can be explained away and that’s where WPR comes in.

“We’re looking for open-minded, rational and level-headed volunteers to help us try and get to the bottom of what has been reported.

“If someone reports something to us we don’t enter into an investigation thinking it most be paranormal, we look at rational causes for what they have witnessed.

“The group is made up of different ages from 20s, 30s and 50s so there’s a good mix.”

The former John of Gaunt student has investigated places such as Corsham Tourist Information Office, the George and Dragon pub in Erlestoke and the Running Horse pub in Swindon.

Miss Stevens also revealed there are many haunted locations in the county she has investigated, however cannot publish information on them due to confidentiality.

“I was interested in ghosts and unexplained things for a few years before I formed the group because I grew up in a house where strange things happened, so I became curious,” she said.

“Some of my family and friends thought it was interesting and others thought it was scary. I did get a lot of ridicule.”

If you are interested in joining the group visit their website at www.wiltshirephenomena.com and apply by January 31.