IS THIS THE GHOST OF THE WHITE LADY OF RUFFORD?

Is this a ghost in the doorway?

Look closely, and you may just be able to make out a ghostly image on these photos captured by a quick-witted teenager.

Cameron Hamilton caught the misty white figure on the snaps when he used his iPod Touch while visiting Nottinghamshire County Council's Rufford Abbey Country Park with friends.

Staff think he might have captured images of the ghostly White Lady of Rufford who, according to legend, is believed to be the spirit of ill-fated Arbella Stuart.

Cameron, 15, from South Drive in Bilsthorpe, Notts, said his belief in the supernatural has been bolstered after seeing the ghoulish snaps.

"I was quite surprised and was not expecting it. I believe in ghosts and the supernatural and this has further convinced me that they do exist, " he said.

His mother, Helen, said they were shocked by what they saw when they looked at Cameron's pictures at home, and went on to show staff at the country park.

"Cameron has taken it all in his stride," she said.

"Apparently he was reading the information panels in the Abbey 'Undercroft' about the ghostly legends of Rufford and decided to take some photos to see he could capture anything spooky on film.

Close-up of the doorway.

"It was only when he got home and we examined the film that we saw this image of a White Lady clearly in shot. You can make out the jewellery she is wearing and her face too."

The photographs show the arched stone doorway to the medieval Cellarium area of the ruins, and appear to show a misty white figure.

Debbie Hibbert, who manages the tourist information centre at Rufford Abbey, which is managed by Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: "It certainly looked like a figure - like a young woman in full old fashioned dress, hovering over the door."

Nottinghamshire County Council Visitor Services Manager Linda Hardy, who is based at Rufford Abbey, explained the history behind the legend of the White Lady.

She said: "There's a local legend that one of the ghosts of Rufford is The White Lady - who some say is the spirit of Arbella Stuart, tragic granddaughter of Bess of Hardwick.

"Her parents were secretly married at the Abbey. I've heard of one or two sightings of her by local people in past years.

"Maybe Cameron has managed to capture a genuine Ghost of Christmas Past."

Rufford Abbey hosted an evening event to look for ghosts a few weeks back - and with its background as a Cistercian Abbey and a grand country house, there have been numerous sightings of different ghosts throughout the years.

One type of white rose in the rose garden at Rufford Abbey is also named after The White Lady.

Source: TheGuide

My view:

To me this looks like a photographic anomaly caused by the light from the archway. I do not see what the media see, which is newspaper sales.