A SPOOKY secret has been uncovered at a Westhoughton post office.

The new owners of the Hindley Road shop, Janet and Raymond Wilson, have been hearing ghostly footsteps in a deserted upstairs room.

Papers and chairs have also mysteriously moved during the night.

The couple are currently doing the first ever renovation of the subpost office and hope the ghost - which they have nicknamed Fred - doesn't take offence at being disturbed.

Janet, aged 35, said: "We thought the restoration would disturb Fred - but it hasn't.

"When we first arrived in January, we started to hear bangs and things every day.

"It was always in the upstairs front room over the top of the shop.

"Every night I lock the door and put on the alarm but the next morning I find chairs have moved and papers that I remember putting in certain places have also been moved.

"At first I was a bit uneasy being on my own but I've got used to him now."

Among the things they have discovered in the renovation are long-forgotten bread ovens - which were last used about 75 years ago when the building was a bakery.

The pair, who took over the post office in January and currently live in Chorley, discovered them by chance under old rubbish in a back room.

They believe the spectre may be an old baker's assistant or some other former employee.

During the work, they have found nothing to give them a clue as to Fred's identity - except the old iron ovens.

Janet said she would now keep them and clean them up.

She added: "It's just nice to know there is such a history behind the post office.

"There are some pensioners in their 90s who remember buying bread from here.

"It's such a friendly place - I just hope the ghost stays friendly."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.