DRINKERS at a Bolton pub could soon start hitting the spirits -- because a ghostly customer keeps cutting off their beer supply.

Now regulars at the King's Head, Deane, are urging landlord John Martin to call "time" on the antics of the ghost, thought to be that of a Civil War Cavalier.

The tavern, believed to have been built in the 17th century, is widely regarded as the second oldest in town. It was once a place of rest for mourners travelling to funerals at Deane Parish Church.

John has got used to things going bump in the night since he moved in with his wife Christine nearly two months ago.

But he was stunned when the phantom Cavalier drifted down into his locked cellar and turned off his Guinness supply. One minute the dark drink was flowing smoothly -- then suddenly the taps ran dry.

He said: "The regulars told me about the ghost when I arrived, but at first I thought they were taking the Micky.

"Then all kinds of strange things started happening. Lights started being switched on in the night and beer mats have been lined up on the bar."

The Cavalier may have been killed in revenge for the 1644 Bolton massacre when 1,000 were killed by royalist forces. He has also turned over a table in the ladies' toilets and has mysteriously put ashtrays into a pile.

The pub is connected by tunnels to Deane Parish Church and is one of a number of haunted inns around town.

The Man and Scythe in Churchgate is thought to have a good selection of spirits and the Wheatsheaf in Westhoughton was also once reported to have a ghost of a past licensee. But King's Head landlord John is not a bit worried -- because his own spooky regular seems to be quite a happy-go-lucky fellow.

He said: "I'm quite open minded about these things and the ghost seems to be quite friendly so it's not a problem for me. He's probably been a customer for hundreds of years but he'll have to start behaving now -- or else he might find himself barred."

Ghostly regular who makes things go bump in the night

SPOOKY STUFF: John Martin in the cellar of the King's Head where a ghostly Cavalier is blamed for spooky goings-on