Yvette Fielding and her ghost-busting team spent a night at the historic hall - and were apparently threatened with death by the ghost of a "black witch".

But rather than frightening people away, Towneley Hall staff hope the ghostly goings-on will attract more visitors.

Towneley Hall is owned and managed by Burnley Council and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Museum manager Mr Ken Darwen said: "The 'Most Haunted' team spent several days at Towneley, looking at Boggarts Bridge and investigating some of the more macabre events that have happened here down the centuries.

"Towneley is steeped in history and spending the night here certainly seemed to get Yvette and her team's pulses racing. They described Towneley as a magnificent stately home and showed some wonderful views of the hall's interior and well as some of the more spooky parts of the building. It was a great advert for Towneley, whatever your views on ghosts and witches might be."

The "Most Haunted" team turned out the lights and toured the hall in the dark. They concentrated on the Long Gallery where they held a séance and contacted the ghostly Lady Sybil. They heard knocking, a woman singing and were threatened with death "from the beyond".

A member of the crew was dragged through a doorway by his legs by an invisible force. Webcams had been situated in the attic, Great Hall, Long Gallery and cellar. Many people got involved on the "Most Haunted" website and sent messages to the show to warn of impending danger.

The night came to a tumultuous end when historian, Lesley Smith, safe in the studio, fed Yvette words during a séance and the spirit rocked the table violently. The team seemed genuinely shaken and reported this was "the spookiest since Pendle Hill".