'I explored one of England's most haunted Templar sites - then I caught a ghost on camera'

A paranormal investigator from Wakefield believes he has captured the ghost of a Knights Templar on camera at a historic tower.

Mark Vernon, 60, visited the 13th century remains of Temple Bruer, which used to be one of the wealthiest estates of the Knights Templar, in Lincolnshire.

He said while he was at the abandoned site he heard voices as well as the sound of scraping from the stairway.

But he was left stunned when he watched back footage from his spooky encounter to see a ghostly apparition moving across the camera just feet away from where he can be seen sitting.

Mr Vernon suspects it could have been the spirit of a member of the Knight's Templar having read reports of ghosts in the area wearing robes featuring red crosses - the most recognized emblem of order.

The Wakefield lorry-driver said: "I have been doing this for about 40 years and I can safely say this is among the top three most haunted places I have ever visited.

"As soon as I walked into the place the hair on my arms were standing on end and that is usually a sign that you're not alone.

"While I was there I could hear a man and woman talking in quite a conversational manner but then as soon as I moved towards the sound it disappeared.

"There was definitely nobody else at the site, it was completely empty and then I also heard the sound of scraping coming up the stairs like something was being dragged up them.

"I've been doing this long enough that it doesn't scare me. I do it by myself as there's a better chance you'll see something.

"I've seen three ghosts in my lifetime with my own eyes - but its usually cameras that pick them up.

"And that is what happened here - when I watched back the footage you can see something moving across the room. “

Temple Bruer is one of the few remaining Templar sites in England and in the 12th Century it formed part of a vast network of bases run by the order.