91Èȱ¬

He's no stranger to early mornings, but 91Èȱ¬ Radio Norfolk's Stephen Bumfrey had better prepare himself for a very late night when he goes ghost hunting in King's Lynn.

The breakfast show presenter, along with colleagues Sally Beadle and Nanette Aldous, will spend the night of 30 October at the Tudor Rose Hotel, parts of which date back to the 15th century.

Haunted hotel?

There are a number of spooky stories connected to the medieval building, in St Nicholas' Street, just off the historic Tuesday Market Place.

One legend is that a bride was stabbed to death by her new husband after she discovered he had another lover.

Since then the apparition of a woman in a long white dress has been seen in the hotel.Ìý

A clergyman is also said to haunt parts of the building.

"We hear noises all the time," said Charles Douglas, the owner of Tudor Rose Hotel.

"My staff say that they continually see the ghost of a lady in the back bar.

"The most curious things that have happened to me have been the telephone ringing for no reason at all, and one day the bath apparently filled up on its own and was just about to overflow," he added.

Open mind

The team is adopting a healthy dollop of scepticism to their chances of witnessing anyghostly activity, but they're also keeping an open mind.

"I'm not sure one way or the other about the existence of ghosts," said Stephen.

"But occasionally things do happen in life that would have you believe there might just be something more to it all.

"I'm looking forward to a night in a haunted hotel. I wonder what I'll believe come breakfast time," he added.

Breakfast show producer Sally Beadle agrees that while she remains cynical, she could be surprised by the experience.

"Logically, I don't believe in ghosts at all," said Sally.

"But there is a part of me which thinks the human soul might linger on in some form in some places.

"If I actually sense something on Tuesday, I think it's fair to say I'll be scared stiff!"

Tapping into experience

So does Charles think they'll find any ghosts in his hotel?

"I think it's on an individual basis, depending on how spiritual they are," he said.

"I'm fairly cynical... these ghosts, if they are about, don't bother to turn up and see me. But other people who are more receptive seem to get a different reaction."Ìý

91Èȱ¬ Radio Norfolk's Breakfast with Bumfrey will be broadcast live from the Tudor Rose Hotel on Wednesday, 31 October, 2007 from 7am.Ìý You will be able to listen again to the show via this site afterwards.