HALLOWE'EN may have come and gone, but it seems unquiet spirits are still plaguing Yorkshire's business community.

Scarborough is proud of the Woodend Creative Workspace, but it is rumoured that some of the historic building's former occupants are reluctant to give up the ghost.

At the dinner to mark Scarborough's first International Business Forum, there was a lot of praise for the success achieved by Woodend since it opened in April. Its tenants include a host of creative firms, such as the fast-growing web design and development company Save9, and the Scarborough Museums Trust.

But some of the workspace's tenants believe they are sharing the building with spectres. There have been reports of children heard weeping in locked and empty rooms, and others have described how
a strange presence "flitted" past them.

The building has a rich heritage. Lady Louisa Sitwell bought it in 1870. She added a splendid conservatory, and a few years later, her son, Sir George Sitwell, added a new wing with a library modelled on his family home at Renishaw Hall, Derbyshire.

The house was the birthplace of Edith Sitwell in 1887, and played a strong role in the literary lives of Sir George's children – Osbert, Edith and Sacheverell – until he sold it to Scarborough Council in 1934.

Andrew Clay, the director of Woodend Creative Workspace, is pleased to report that at least one of the building's ghosts is highly domesticated.

"We have a resident ghost," he says. "It's a quirk of the building. We think he may be Sitwell's butler. We've actually caught him on CCTV – he looks like he's shaking a rug."

Paxman pacified

The revelation that high-brow broadcaster Jeremy Paxman is worried that M&S undies no longer offer "adequate support", was greeted with howls of laughter when it first came to light.

According to Paxo, it's a common problem among his friends, leading to what he described as "widespread gusset anxiety".

The no-nonsense Newsnight presenter wrote in a personal capacity to M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose to raise his concerns, and the question journalists were asking at the recent M&S interims is: "Have they been resolved?"

Sir Stuart was happy to tell us that Paxo is back in harness and all is well.

"Jeremy came in and we had a very jolly lunch," explained Sir Stuart. "I'm happy to say that normal service has now been resumed."

Calm of Dunwoody

THE star speaker at Scarborough's International Business Forum was the former jockey, Richard Dunwoody, a man who knows all about getting back after suffering a fall. He suffered 672 of them during his career, which is still a record.

Dunwoody also had plenty of triumphs, including victories in the Grand National, the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup. His lucid yet self-effacing speech was a master class in how to hold an audience's attention.

In 2008, he became the first person to reach the South Pole on foot and unresupplied from the Recovery Glacier. In total, he covered an incredible 680 miles. Every day, he faced the prospect of falling to his death down a crevasse. He needed relentless optimism and tenacity just to step outside his tent.

He hoped Yorkshire's business community will face up to the prospect of recession with the same calm faith in their ability to overcome adversity.

Facing up to TV

Digital TV developer Pace is enjoying bumper sales as people stay in to watch pay-view TV instead of going out and spending money.

One of the main drivers is new technology such as High Definition TV, which offers a much higher picture quality.

But Helen Kettleborough, at Saltaire-based Pace, says that not everyone is happy about it.

Apparently the picture is so clear that aging signs and skin imperfections are dramatically visible. A website TVPredictions.com has come up with the "Best and Worst" in HDTV – and there are surprises.

On heart-throb Brad Pitt it says: "With those pockmarked cheeks, you half expect a space capsule to land on his face."

John Travolta also comes in for a pasting: "It's a guarded secret in Hollywood that Travolta wears a toupée. But in high-def, the secret
is out."

As for the winners, they include Brad's missus, Angelina Jolie: "The actress is often called the world's sexiest woman and she's high-def's favourite, too. She has beautiful skin, plush lips and cat-like eyes," according to TVPredictions.com

But a surprise favourite is our own David Beckham. "The world's most famous soccer player may have trouble kicking these days, but his unstoppable good looks add insult to injury to any man who tries to compete," concludes the website.

Cause for concern

ON October 9, Leeds City Council told the Yorkshire Post that it would reopen pavements surrounding KW Linfoot's abandoned Lumiere site "that week".

Some nearby firms complained the pedestrian diversions on Whitehall Road and Wellington Street had damaged business.

By October 23, the pavements were still closed. We chased the council and a spokeswoman said: "There was a meeting with the contractors and they have promised they will start to take the hoardings back from October 27."

Today is November 11. The pavements remain closed.