Paranormal evening, Dudley Castle - review

I was one of a big group who had voluntarily walked through the gates of the zoo and medieval castle after hours and entered the unnerving scene for a ghost tour and demonstrations from a medium until early in the morning.

Admittedly, I was expecting the night to be more theatrical but no one whispered in my ear, pulled my hair or knocked repeatedly on the table pretending to be my dead grandmother to put on a show when we called ghosts.

In fact, the most exhilarating part was when I was in the 'haunted' ladies toilets in the pitch black huddled up with two strangers, straining our ears, desperately listening for a sign that a ghost was among us and we jumped out of our skin with fear when we heard a sharp and loud tsk.

But this was not a ghost, instead it was an automatic air freshener.

Anyone expecting that kind of thrill would be disappointed because this is a more genuine paranormal experience.

Whilst I felt as though I spent hours standing around talking to thin air because I did not hear or feel anything, some guests claimed they felt body parts get cold suddenly while others felt someone- or something- blow on their cheek.

Bubbly spiritualist, Craig Morris, stated from the very beginning that the evening is what you make it. This became clear when he and fellow spiritualist, Gareth Lewis, performed a mediumship in the castle.

The pair reduced a couple of visitors to tears as he told them things about their dead relatives or friends which he could not possibly have known unless he was actually communicating with them somehow.

It felt theatrical to me and it seemed like the secret was a decent bit of research prior to the night and making general statements but believers hung on every word they said and, at times, I was taken back by some of the unlikely things they got right.

Guests were also given a fascinating tour of the grounds with castle expert Amy Hickman and conservation officer Chris Leeson, who put everyone at ease by being friendly and funny despite the nature of the stories.

Tales about fathers slitting their daughters throats, drummer boys being shot with horrendous weapons and wives being pushed off the tower provided a chilling insight to the ghosts we were attempting to call.

Whilst I remain a sceptic, even after table tipping and glass divination, it was an interesting experience.

Tickets cost £40 and can be bought for an upcoming paranormal evening from 8pm until 2am on November 9 by visiting https://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/events/