THE spirit of an old highwayman shared details of his colourful life as mediums took to the Highwayman Inn at Sourton recently.

Paranormal Investigation, an organisation specialising in Westcountry cases, was recently at the famous inn run by Sally and Bruce Thomson.

President of the organisation Michael Williams, speaking exclusively to the Times, said: 'In the dining room two of our mediums made contact with the spirit of a highwayman called Cross.

'Using pendulums, they unearthed some interesting information about this man.

'He declined to give any dates, as is usually the case when we attempt linking with smugglers, but highwayman Cross admitted he operated in the Okehampton — Dartmoor area due to a romantic relationship with the then landlady of the Sourton Inn.

'She provided him with information about coming journeys and, an accomplished horse-woman, she sometimes accompanied him on his exploits robbing the rich.

'They rode black horses and there were also some business dealings with smugglers, including a Cornishman called Captain Jack — a seaman turned highwayman.'

Three members of the organisation said they were aware of the highwayman's unseen presence in a specific area of the dining room.

Bruce Thomson, landlord of the inn, said: 'They are qualified mediums and we're not but we have both experienced unexplainable things like bottles bursting for no reason, electrical faults and smells of matches and cigar smoke.

'I'm not a big believer in ghosts or manifestations but I do believe in energies.

'People who have stayed here have experienced unusual things in the bedrooms and other people have seen and photographed orbs.'

Paranormal Investigation would like to hear from anyone with historical knowledge of Cross, or sightings of his ghost.

Contact Michael Williams on 01840 213401.