Bev Barton and Angela Atkinson are asking for help in solving the riddle of why their shop, The Print and Stationery Zone on Towngate, is plagued by spooky goings-on.

In the latest incident, which happened last weekend, the businesswomen had given their keys to some workmen who were making repairs to the back of the shop.

But they were so spooked by loud noises from the front of the Towngate store that when they handed the keys back on Sunday they admitted to being 'frightened'.

Bev said: "It is quiet on a Sunday yet the builders said there was a lot of banging coming from the front of the shop. They kept checking, but there was no-one there and they had locked the front door behind them.

"Angela and myself really want to find out what the story of this building is because there have been a lot of unexplainable things happening.

"We had the building extended four years ago and we think all the upheaval must have disturbed something.

"I have been sat in the back office with a customer and seen this lady walk from under the stairs towards the till in the front of the shop.

"I was thinking 'how has that woman got in here?' because we have a chime on the door and when I went to speak to her she wasn't there."

"It's not poltergeist activity, but it is a bit scary because she's so vivid.

"You can smell her violet perfume and she's as plain as day. She's 60 odd, maybe 70 years old, small and wearing an old dress with light grey hair. There are always things happening in the corner of your eye, but there are times when we see her right there in the shop."

According to Bev, the business used to be a Sue Ryder charity shop and they had boxes of books mysteriously moved.

• Can you help solve the ghostly mystery? Do you know who the lady could be? Contact the Guardian on 01257 264911 or email guardiannews@lep.co.uk.