THERE will be thrills and spills of a distinctly ghostly type in Skipton this month as stroke survivor Malcolm Hanson conducts his once-famous ghost walks around the town’s supernatural hot spots on Friday evenings.

Malcolm, a former musician and ghost hunter, held his first ghost walk on Friday, May 13 after a lay-off of three years. The former tourist guide suffered a serious stroke in 2018. Now he’s back, and to prove it he led a crowd of eager ghost enthusiasts on a walk that features Sheep Street and the High Street , ending at the Black Horse.

“I was really hoping I could do it. To have to learn to walk and talk again was almost impossible to do, but it worked.” said Malcolm. “Everyone who came on the walk enjoyed the stories and sites visited. When it was first announced I would be doing a walk, all the places went within an hour. It’s a good thing I’m doing a string of dates in May and June.”

All dates in May filled as quickly as the first one, so Malcolm has agreed to do dates in June. All money raised will be going to local charities.

“On Friday we raised 150 pounds for Manorlands Hospice. We are going on to raise funds for SSIA and the stroke ward at Airedale Hospital.

Last Friday’s walk took in the site of “Hell’s Kitchen” once a house of ill repute; the Woolly Sheep where a former lady owner haunts the cellor; and the Black Horse, once owned by Richard III. Famous characters from Skipton’s past, such as Seequah the Indian Tooth-puller and circus owner Jane Day, who allowed her lions to terrorise the High Street, had the audience in stiches.

“It’s great to be back,” said Malcolm. “My doctors thought there was only a very slim chance that I would walk again. They used to call me the ghost guy. I almost was!”

For news of future ghost walks Malcolm can be contacted on Facebook or email: malcolm.b.hanson@gmail.com