Watch: Paranormal investigator captures 'ghost' at 13th century Knight's Templar tower
A paranormal investigator believes he has captured the ghost of a Knights Templar on camera at a historic tower which was once used by the ancient order of warrior monks.
Mark Vernon, 60, visited the 13th century remains of Temple Bruer, which used to be one of the wealthiest estates of the Knights Templar and is nestled in the Lincolnshire countryside.
The ghost hunter said he heard voices while walking around the abandoned site as well as the sound of scraping coming from the stairway as if something was being dragged upstairs.
And he was left stunned when he watched back footage from his spooky encounter to see a ghostly apparition moving across the camera just feet away from where he can be seen sitting.
Mark reckons it could have been the spirit of a member of the Knight's Templar having read reports of ghosts in the area wearing robes featuring red crosses - the most recognized emblem of order.
Lorry driver Mark, of Wakefield, said: "I have been doing this for about 40 years and I can safely say this is among the top three most haunted places I have ever visited.
"As soon as I walked into the place the hair on my arms were standing on end and that is usually a sign that you're not alone.
"While I was there I could hear a man and woman talking in quite a conversational manner but then as soon as I moved towards the sound it disappeared.
"There was definitely nobody else at the site, it was completely empty and then I also heard the sound of scraping coming up the stairs like something was being dragged up them.
"I've been doing this long enough that it doesn't scare me. I do it by myself as there's a better chance you'll see something.
"I've seen three ghosts in my lifetime with my own eyes - but its usually cameras that pick them up.
"And that is what happened here - when I watched back the footage you can see something moving across the room.
"There have been reports of sightings of people in robes with the red Knight's Templar cross on them.
"So it could be a member of the order who once occupied the tower are still trapped within its walls in spirit form.
"Who knows but I was definitely not by myself in there.
"When I listened back to my EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) recording I could hear somebody ask "Where is Cara?
"She is a spirit I have encountered before and take with me places."
Mark said he decided to visit the site after watching a fellow ghost hunter called The Wanderlust Way on Youtube.
She also described the dragging noises on the stairs of the tower.
Mark added: "It was definitely a dragging sound which she had also experienced so quite a coincidence otherwise.
"Most of the time you go to these places and nothing happens for hours - but this place was very active right from the minute I walked in there."
Temple Bruer is one of the few remaining Templar sites in England and in the 12th Century it formed part of a vast network of bases run by the order.
It was once the second wealthiest Templar preceptory in England after London and the surviving 13th century tower originally formed part of the Templar church.
The interior walls are covered in masons marks and centuries-worth of symbols carved and scratched into the stone, including apotropaic symbols such as daisy wheels, pentangles, triquetras, interlocking 'V's and 'M's.
The powerful military band was eventually dissolved in 1312 by Pope Clement V but traces of its past can still be found across Britain and Europe.