GHOSTLY FOOTSTEPS: Nicola and Joseph Philpot, and their children Thomas and Felicity, who say they have seen mysterious figures climbing their stairs

A CHIGWELL family who believe their home is being plagued by ghosts are appealing for help from anyone who may know the cause.

Joseph and Nicola Philpot and their children moved into the new-build two-storey house in Bramble Close in October last year.

Since then they say they have heard footsteps on the stairs, seen ghostly figures and say their belongings are constantly disappearing and reappearing with no explanation.

Mr Philpot said: "It's just strange. I don't know what to think any more. Other people have noticed it too. We've seen figures walking up and down the stairs and when we were on holiday our friends were looking after the house.

"They came in one day and the next day when they came in all the chairs had moved and there were two cups of tea on the table. They thought we'd come back early, but we were still in Yarmouth. It's spooky."

He added: "I just want to know what's happening and why. I've tried to research the history. What was here before?

"It's not that far from the original Chigwell campsite. It may have been an original burial ground. You don't know, do you? If you go back far enough it could be anything. This house may be built on sacred ground. If anyone has studied the history, I'd love to know."

Mrs Philpot added: "It's getting worse. It's got to a point where, if you start talking about the ghosts, it goes cold."

Mr Philpot said his parents' house had been haunted by his grandmother when he was younger.

He added: "She was a Victorian woman and didn't believe in things like central heating. When she was alive, she always used to turn the immersion heater off. When she died, it didn't stop. You'd put it on and two seconds later it be off again. We knew it was her. They had to take out the switches completely in the end. There are definitely things in this world outside of the physical."

Mrs Philpot said: "You'd think because it's a new build there wouldn't be ghosts, but there is something here."

9:27am Friday 9th December 2005