It's Hallowe'en but don't bank on seeing any ghosts tonight

According to Worcestershire author Anne Bradford, who has published her sixth book of local ghost stories, the spirits don't come out to play in force at Hallowe'en - despite popular belief.

Mrs Bradford, whose book Ghosts, Murders and Scandals of Worcestershire goes on sale today, says after 12 years of researching ghost stories she has only come across one for Hallowe'en.

In fact, you are no more likely to see a ghost on October 31 than you are on any other day of the year, she says.

"Hallowe'en is part of a Celtic festival. It's when all natural laws are suspended."

But is there more spirit activity at that time? I asked. "No" was the reply.

However, this declaration comes from someone who openly admits that during the course of researching hundreds of spooky stories and years of ghost hunting with a paranormal society, she has never once seen a ghost.

Mrs Bradford visits the places of reported sightings and is sometimes accompanied by a medium who is well practised in sensing phantom phenomena.

"I go to all those houses where they have poltergeists. I go out with the ghost hunters and their equipment. I never feel anything. The medium has given up on me. I am totally insensitive,'' she said.

"When I first started I thought people who saw ghosts were peculiar."

But after years on the trail of ghosts, spooks, hobgoblins, phantoms, apparitions and all things paranormal, the retired teacher is a firm believer in spirit life.

She began taking an interest in tales of the supernatural on finding a collection of Victor-ian ghost stories while carrying out some research in Redditch Library.

The local history librarian Philip Davis persuaded her to update and publish them.

"I was going to do a little leaflet and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some practice in desk-top publishing," said Mrs Bradford.

Now, 12 years on, those first seeds of intrigue have yielded six books of ghost stories, several history books, a role as co-author on three other ghost books and her own publishing business - Hunt End Books - at her home near Redditch, as well as a packed public speaking schedule.

This is how she uncovers many new ghoulish tales. "I do lots of lectures to anyone who will have me. I go to various clubs and societies telling myths, legends and ghost stories. Then I ask if anyone has a ghost story, take their phone number and follow it up.

"If it sounds good then I go and see them and go along to the place where the sighting happened. I sometimes decide to take a medium with me."

The latest publication is a collection of stories - some inspirational, some spine-chilling, some tragic and others comic - gathered over the past three years.

"It contains more than 100 individual paranormal experiences told by the person involved. They range from poltergeists and glimpses of the deceased to a haunted cow and a psychic budgie."

Her favourite anecdote is that of a phantom hitch-hiker.

"A musician from Upton-upon-Severn was on his way to a gig. A man flagged him down so he stopped and gave him a lift. The passenger started telling him about an out-of-body experience he'd had. The musician asked if he was on drugs and had been to see the doctor. The man said no.

"It was dark as they drove along but as they passed through a town where there were street lights, the musician noticed the man's eyes had no pupils. He was really scared. He put his foot down as he drove on to Hereford and he decided to drop him off on the outskirts.

"The man couldn't manage to open the car door so, instead of leaning over him to help, the musician decided to get out of the car and open the door from the outside. The man got out and disappeared.

"The musician walked up and down the road but he could not see him. There are several stories of phantom hitch-hikers. I also love this one about a haunted school. I can't name the school in case it frightens the children, but in it they had a ghost who worked on a computer there overnight."

Mrs Bradford finds the subject of ghosts and their antics fascinating. "It is interesting on so many levels. It is interesting from the paranormal point of view. Then there is the history side and the story telling. I think the story telling is what I really enjoy."

She admits that if she hasn't got quite enough spooky stories for a publication, she'll throw in a few murders for good measure.

The stories in her latest book include reported sightings along Claines Lane, Worces-ter; near Stanbrook Abbey, Callow End; and Shrawley vicarage, near Stourport.

So anyone wanting a chilling thrill this Hallowe'en can buy a copy of Ghosts, Murders and Scandals of Worcestershire - illustrated by Worcester Gothic artist Glenn James - from any good bookshop, priced £7.50.

Or it could just be that Mrs Bradford has got it wrong about spooks taking a night off on the day when, according to ancient pagan belief, the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest.