NOVICE ghost hunter Jonathan Tatham will spend a sleepless Halloween night in a hotel to try to solve the mystery of a spooky bedroom.

The 18-year-old is preparing for his debut ghost hunt in the Swallow Eden Arms Hotel, Rushyford, near Newton Aycliffe, tonight.

Jonathan, from Newton Aycliffe, is being sponsored to spend the night looking for the Grey Lady and a mystery gentleman, and listening for children's voices in the corridor outside the hotel's notorious Room One.

The event is being staged to raise funds for the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland.

Staff at the hotel were more than happy to give Jonathan the free use of the room for his fundraising endeavours, if it helps to solve an enduring mystery.

Marketing manager Amanda Jackson said: "Room Number One is always the coldest in the hotel, no matter what we do, and people have been hearing noises in there going back years and years.

Jonathan's progress through the night is being followed by Century Radio's Ray Anderson, who will be contacting him to catch up on his ghost hunting.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Jonathan, or take part in an event to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland, can contact Sylvia Stoneham on (01388) 603003.