‘I live in Pontefract’s most spooky pub - it’s ridiculously haunted’

The Windmill Inn in Pontefract's historic Wool Market is being hailed as the town's most haunted pub by its landlord, Ian Tennant, and two members of his staff.

Ian, a former freight train driver who has been landlord since March 31 and worked at the Samuel Smith's establishment for 14 months, describes the level of paranormal activity as "ridiculous."

Among the most frequent occurrences are phantom stomping noises heard upstairs.

He said: "On at least four occasions I have been behind the bar and above us we can hear stomping on the corridor upstairs.

"This is been over the last 10 months during the day. I have heard it at least four or five times.”

Ian said the most frightening incident happened around seven weeks ago in the early hours when he was alone upstairs.

He said: "I was in bed and something got hold of me and I couldn't move.

"I literally couldn't move my hands or anything. I was paralysed and could not move for about five minutes. I was frightened."

Ian said he has also heard footsteps outside his bedroom, but saw no-one.

He said: "A week after that I was in bed at 8am and I could hear a child laughing and it and it woke me up. It frightened me to death." He said he was alone in the pub at the time.

Ian said a friend who has stayed let the pub has also been pinned down while in bed.

Ian said: Two weeks ago I did a bit of a casserole for the regulars for free to feed them on a Sunday.

"It was 2pm in the afternoon. I had a dish with a ladle in on a table It flipped up in the air and spun around and fell on the floor."

Bar worker Gail Ashton said: "Around 10 months ago I was doing a late shift and it was quiet.

" I heard banging upstairs like someone was walking about. I knew there was nobody in. the landlady went up and there was no one there.

"I stopped working nights. I won't work nights now because of that so I just do day shifts."

Bar worker Claire Greenberg said: It was a Thursday night around four weeks ago. Me and Ian were sat in the pool room.

"There was no one else about because it was about 10pm and we were about to close. We could hear glasses clinking together but it was coming from the back of the pub.

"We went into the back room to see if there was anyone in there but there was no one about. I was scared. I'm glad Ian was with me.”

Claire added: " I have heard footsteps. you can hear running down the corridor. I have heard that quite a few times. it's near enough every night shift there's no one in there, there's no one upstairs

Ian said despite the spooky happenings he plans to stay at the Windmill for many years

He said: "It's brilliant. I love it. I have got new customers coming in and old customers coming back.

“I'm Pontefract born and bred, everybody knows me. I Love Pontefract. I's a fantastic place. The people are so nice, everyone is friendly."