A GHOSTLY apparition has been caught on camera at a popular Bradford on Avon tea rooms.

The image of what appears to be a Victorian woman was captured by a visitor at the 15th century Bridge Tea Rooms in Bridge Street.

Simon Phillips took the photograph on Saturday, February 3 during a day trip to Bradford on Avon with his partner Ally Vickers.

He had taken photographs of Ally standing outside the building, the lower part of which dates from 1502.

Later, they noticed what appeared to be a lady in a crinoline dress standing at the upstairs window.

Simon said to the Wiltshire Times: “I was taking photos of Ally outside the tea rooms. We noticed that there seems to be a Victorian lady’s face in the top window.

“I don’t believe in this type of thing usually but this is unexplainable. She looks like a spirit.

“After reading up on it, the place is apparently haunted and a Victorian lady has been spotted in the window before.

“My girlfriend believes in this kind of thing, whereas I’m sceptical, but even this made me wonder.”

Simon has passed a copy of his photographs on to tea room owners, Alison and Roy Hayward, who took over the premises in 2006.

Alison said: “The image is so clear and it is such a funny angle as well. She’s standing upstairs where we normally make our cakes and scones.

“But we didn’t have any staff working there on that day who look anything like her.”

The only staff working on that Saturday were Mrs Hayward, 53, her Thai chef Nat Popa, 24, and Glenda Matthews, 62, who rarely goes into the kitchen upstairs.

“Two of us have dark hair and Glenda has grey hair. The lady in the photograph looks to have fair hair.

“We have tried to take a photo from the same position but we can’t get the person at the same angle.”

During the past 11 years, Alison and Roy have hosted a visit from a group of ‘ghostbusters’ and regular visits from a medium.

“The medium has suggested that she may be a Victorian lady wearing a crinoline dress.”

She added: “It a very unusual story but a ghost’s got to be good for business. Many people are interested in things like that.”