GHOSTS and ghouls are haunting the streets of Bicester, according to one local historian.

Peter Chivers runs a ghost walk through the town and has spent years researching the darker parts of its history.

He said: “I’ve heard of at least 15 sightings of various ghosts in Bicester. Many are the result of reported executions or murders, so this is really Bicester’s nastier side.”

Mr Chivers said one popular local ghost was the ‘white lady’, who reportedly roams around Bicester House in King’s End.

He said: “The story goes that she was looking after the house while her men folk were away fighting for the king in the Civil War.

“The house was raided by Parliamentary soldiers so she ran to the nearby Rookery pond to hide all their treasure.

“Needless to say, the soldiers weren’t happy that there was no treasure and she ‘somehow perished’.

“Now she is said to walk the streets of Bicester on the anniversary of her death every year, just looking for her treasure.

“But she won’t find it – that pond was filled in years ago, so she’ll have to keep looking.”