AMATEUR ghost hunters will get the opportunity to learn how to track down ghosts next month when two leading paranormal investigators visit the city.

The overnight training sessions will be led by paranormal investigator Steve Parsons, of research and investigation group Para.Science, and university lecturer, author and TV parapsychologist Dr Ciaran O’Keefe.

They are hoping to teach people how to spot the paranormal using both machines and their own senses before searching for spirits at Oxford Castle, reputedly one of the most haunted locations in England.

Dr O’Keefe said: “We will teach them the scientific end, how to use gadgets like environmental monitors and how to take photos so they understand what they have taken photos of.

“A lot of people say, though, that the best gadget for ghost hunting is us, so we will be teaching people how they can detect the presence of ghosts using all their five senses.

“We will also be dipping into and mentioning some of the spiritual side of things, including Ouija boards.”

A survey of 140 different spooky locations and 22,000 visitors across the country last year found that Queen Matilda, who was incarcerated in the former prison in the 12th century, was the most seen ghost.

In the past three years, 32 people have claimed they saw the Royal spook, who is said to appear as a strange hooded figure formed of white mist.

But Dr O’Keefe is not one of them.

He said: “I haven’t seen anything, but people have reported seeing things at Oxford Castle Unlocked. But it’s rare.

“It is the holy grail of ghost hunting to see a ghost.

“On each and every occasion I’ve been to the Oxford Castle Unlocked something has happened and it’s enough to get your teeth into (as a ghost hunter). It is a valuable venue for ghost hunting.”

Dr O’Keefe was hoping it would bring more people into ghosthunting.

He said: “Like any industry, to keep evolving it’s important that we attract new people into our sector.

“Proper training about the investigation of ghostly experiences ensures an ethical and critical approach which would hopefully permeate this growth industry.

“The problem I see is that most ghost hunting groups are running around scaring each other without knowing what they are doing.

“If people are going out to investigate ghosts, there are ways of investigating properly and there are ways of investigating badly.”

Sessions take place at Oxford Castle Unlocked on Friday, October 1 and the following Saturday.

The overnight ghost-hunting event costs £65 and is part of Ghost Fest, which runs throughout October. Many other ghostly events are also taking place through the month-long festivities.

For more details on the Ghost Fest visit oxfordcastle unlocked.co.uk