Naomi and Alan Katze say the pesky poltergeist first made his presence felt a few weeks after they took over Draymans in Little London in June 2006.

His favourite methods of taunting include turning off valves in the cellar and even throwing glasses.

Naomi said the phantom tends to appear more over the festive period and staff have got used to his antics, even though he also likes prodding people in the back while they are on the phone.

She said: "There are just too many incidents for it to be anything else.

"Last year a glass just flew off the shelf at me and if my husband hadn't seen it with his own eyes he would never have believed it because he's the biggest sceptic in the world.

"Over Christmas he placed a bottle from the top of the shelf on a till. There's no other way it could have got there.

"He's not a nasty ghost, he's just mischievous, so we're not too bothered about him."

The couple are keen to hear from anyone who has any knowledge of the ghost or the history of the pub in general.

They were recently contacted by Barry Tyson whose grandfather Edward had links with the pub before emigrating to Canada.

Mr Tyson sent them a 1920s photo of the pub, then called Draymans Arms Inn, showing a carriage carrying children through Little London being drawn by his grandfather.

Naomi said: "I was speaking to a regular who has lived here all his life and he said Edward Tyson was definitely a landlord at the pub.

"We would like to find more photos of the pub that we could put up on the walls."

If you have any information on the history of the pub telephone 01775 724320.