The Kirkbymoorside History Group is appealing for your ghost stories. Following on from the success of their first book, published last year – Hiding in the Dark - the group is on the look out for any other nearby local legends or peculiar haunted spaces.

As Kirkbymoorside doesn’t have much of a castle left, they have included legends from Nunnington, Byland and the moors above Rosedale, and would love to uncover a few more forgotten stories from the area.

Louise Mudd, from Kirkbymoorside History Group, said: “The first book came about as a result of local tales told about a building in town over the years; figures and strange events were mentioned by so many employees and visitors that there had to something strange going on, so I went along to chat and took some photographs down in the old cellars.

"And once we started asking there were no end of interesting and unusual stories that just had to be written down.

"A few people were a little reluctant to talk at first, but as word spread that we were really interested in recording the details we got more and more information coming in. Kirkbymoorside was such an important place, the crossroads for travellers and businessmen from all over the area, it’s no wonder there is still a few echoes left of the many tragedies and dramas that have unfolded here. Believe in them or not, ghost stories have always held a fascination for people.

“It has also been fascinating to uncover some of the other forgotten spaces underground. We have also tried to record and photograph the abandoned back sheds, attics and cellars which are often some of the oldest parts of the town and they are wonderfully atmospheric. I have been down numerous cellars and only one felt uncomfortable enough that I didn’t want to linger too long down there. We are working on a second book, which we hope to publish in time for Halloween, and would love to rediscover some stories from further afield.”

The Kirkbymoorside History Group can be contacted via their Facebook page or by email : kmshistory@btinternet.com