Woman says horny ghost gropes her like an octopus

A 73-year-old British woman claims that she is being haunted by a poltergeist who gropes her, as she tries to sleep

Doris Birch, of Herne Bay, began experiencing the nocturnal disturbances in her flat four months ago.

"It's like an octopus. I was lying in bed when I felt this creepy pair of hands," the Daily Mail quoted Birch as saying.

"I kicked frantically and it went away.

"I've tried sleeping without the duvet. But it started shaking my mattress.

"I even threw the mattress off the bed and bought a new one but it has made no difference.

"This is very creepy and is giving me the jitters. It's harassing me.

"I need to call in the Ghostbusters.'

According to the Canterbury Times, the grandmother lives alone, and has said that she has consulted a vicar, who believes the disturbances are being caused by a 'lost spirit'.

The former nursing home assistant has had a promise from a local husband-and-wife ghost hunting team to send the poltergeist packing.

Spirit medium Ray Herne says he will draw the ghost into him while his wife Beryl will capture it in a "vortex of light" and send it to the "other side".

Methodist Minister Hugh-Nigel Sheehan of the nearby United Church confirmed he had been approached by Birch but had been unable to help.

Poltergeist activity has often been believed to be the work of malicious ghosts.

The word poltergeist comes from the German words poltern "to make a noise" and geist "spirit".

The term itself literally means "noisy ghost" and victims often report inanimate objects being picked up and thrown, noises such as knocking, rapping and human voices, or even physical attacks.