The Bermuda Triangle has long been a source of international mystery, with planes and ships disappearing without trace into the ocean.

Now the north has its own version of the legendary site - The Yorkshire Triangle.

Researchers have identified a 221 square mile area between York, Harrogate and Leeds as the second most haunted place in Britain. It was also named as the country's top location for seeing UFOs.

Yorkshire was only beaten by Cornwall in the findings, which were collected by a team of paranormal researchers commissioned by television channel Sky Travel to publicise the start of its Mysterious Britain season.

The team was led by paranormal expert Lionel Fanthorpe and spent months collecting documented cases of UFO and ghost sightings, crop circles and mysterious creatures.

They then plotted them on a map and came up with three obvious triangles where paranormal activity was at its strongest in Cornwall, Yorkshire and Norfolk.

The York area is no stranger to hitting the headlines for its ghostly happenings. Two years ago it was named as the most haunted city in Europe.

One of the most famous stories associated with York dates back to 1953 when apprentice plumber Harry Martindale was installing a new central heating system in the cellars of the Treasurer's House, near the Minster.

He heard the distant sound of a horn, which became gradually louder. A great carthorse then emerged through the brick wall, ridden by a dishevelled Roman soldier. He was followed by several more soldiers, dressed in green tunics and plumed helmets.

It looked as though they were walking on their knees as their lower legs and feet were nowhere to be seen. Tthe ghostly crew then moved into a recently excavated area, and it became clear that they were walking on an old Roman road.

Mr Fanthorpe, who is president of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena, said: "The three affected areas have all experienced battles, plagues, trauma and tragedy over the centuries - factors which may stimulate increased paranormal activity.

"But the presence of ley-line intersections, irregularities in the Earth's magnetic and gravitational fields, or even extra terrestrial activity could all play a part in forming these mysterious triangles."