GHOST HUNTERS are to check out stories of a phantom snorer at an old house in Wootton Bassett.

For years, stories have surrounded the old Lime Kiln House, once the home of radio station GWR FM.

Claims of ghostly snoring from a man who fell down the stairs, and a cellar door, usually locked but occas-ionally found wide open, have all been claimed but never confirmed.

Now experts from the Para-normal Investigation Team UK (PITUK) are to check out the claims and prove if the old building really is haunted, They plan to carry out a special investigation on October 28, three days before Halloween, to see whether the stories are true or not.

Trevor Hearn, from Toothill in West Swindon, the event co-ordinator and investigator, said: "Some people say that Halloween opens a doorway between the spiritual world and our world making a special night for paranormal activity but others just say its an overhyped day in the calendar.

"For us though it's the last chance we will have to investigate the Lime Kiln building before it is turned into offices by developers.

"We have been in the building before and recorded all sorts of activity, but this time we are assembling our experts in different fields to see what we can pick up."

Trevor's own specialty is sound recording.

He uses a digital sound recorder - perhaps not very hi-tech - but when the recordings are put through computer software, sounds at different frequencies and pitches that the human ear may not detect, can be picked up, This can lead to clues of paranormal activity.

Others use a method called automatic writing - a form of meditation where team members hold pens, attempt to make contact with spirits, and then let the spirits communicate by writing.

"We try to be logical in our investigations, and try to find an explanation for everything.

"Nine out of 10 times there will be a reason for what's going on but there is that one in 10, where you cannot explain it.

"In the case of automatic writing, there can only be a few real explanations for it - either a spirit really is communicating, or someone has grabbed a pen and written something out as a joke, so we have to have real trust in the team to make sure that doesn't happen.

"But there will always be critics."

Paul Kaye, programme controller for GWR FM, which is now in West Swindon, said: "There were always lots of stories about the building, the staircase and the man falling down it and then there was the cellar.

"Only a small number of people ever had a key for it, and one night it would be locked, but the next day you could find it wide open, with nobody having been in there and the alarm on."

The studios at Lime Kiln are now occupied by Brunel FM, but the house is now empty and will be turned into offices.

To find out more about PITUK visit their website at www.pituk.co.uk

Edward enjoyed team's visit

IT is not the first time that PITUK have investigated the Lime Kiln House.

Earlier this year, a team of 12 investigators checked out the many rooms, as well as the cellar.

In a report on their website they describe the evening as highly eventful.

One of the group sensed a man named Joseph who was in his 60s.

He was apparently a large man who had red hair, a bald spot and a flushed face.

Other members reported thumping noises and their faces being tickled, while others felt a presence behind doors.

In another part of the house one member could sense the presence of an old man in a rocking chair.

He was wearing brown trousers, braces, waistcoat, and white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, flat cap and smoking a pipe.

It is believed his name was Edward and he was about 70 years old. The team said it seemed like he was enjoying them being there.

The group also had an automatic writer with them and during the night, he had written the words, Joseph, Revell, Rector, Pauper and then later wrote 1792AD.

The team has also visited what is considered to be the county's most haunted pub, the Red Lion at Avebury, and the Rose and Crown at Ashbury.