Ghostly goings-on in Ottery St Mary

Halloween has come early at The Volunteer Inn in Broad Street, Ottery St Mary with some mysterious shenanigans.

On two occasions candles used for the restaurant tables have relit after being extinguished the night before.

The first time, cleaners discovered two candles alight even though staff were adamant they had extinguished them. On the second occasion, candles on two adjacent restaurant tables were burning - even though landlady Jacqui Down had herself made sure they were put out.

Jacqui said: “Although I’ve not previously been aware of supernatural goings on in The Volunteer, our bar staff are attributing this phenomenon to a phantom. “They’ve gone as far as giving it a name – Sebastian.”

The candles are supplied by Ottery’s newest shop, The Recycled Candle Company, which uses the wax from old candles to make beautiful new ones.

Candle maker, Richard Hills-Ingyon said: “Candles relighting themselves is not something we’ve heard of before – we too blame the spectral Sebastian!”

Jacqui agrees, saying customers love the candles and she will continue to use them, spooks or no spooks.