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Arrowing experience

Has this grandad captured on film the spooky image of a GHOST archer drawing his bow in a medieval castle?

David Lonsdale was looking back at old family photos when he spotted something strange in the background

Has a granddad captured an image of a ghostly archer in the background of an old family photo?

A GRANDDAD has captured what he believes could be the spooky image of a ghostly archer drawing his bow in the background of a 26-year-old family snap.

David Lonsdale, 58, took the picture of his two daughters stood smiling in front of Rhuddlan Castle in Wales on a trip with daughters Sarah and Fiona, then aged 10 and six, more than a quarter of a century ago.

 Has a granddad captured an image of a ghostly archer in the background of an old family photo which was taken 26years ago?
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Has a granddad captured an image of a ghostly archer in the background of an old family photo which was taken 26years ago?Credit: Mercury Press and Media Ltd

But last week, when David was flicking through some old photos he spotted a strange haunting figure stood inside an alcove of the castle looming in the background.

The granddad-of-three thinks the image shows a dark figure 'peering' round the 13th century castle walls, with black eyes and hands up as if drawing a bow in their direction.

David, from Brighouse, West Yorkshire, said: "I was just going through some old photos and I took a picture of it on my phone to show my daughters as I thought it was a nice picture.

 The spooky image seems to show an eerie figure hidden within the alcove of the castle
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The spooky image seems to show an eerie figure hidden within the alcove of the castleCredit: Mercury Press

"However when I blew the picture up, I thought I noticed a figure that seemed to be peering out from behind the wall.

"I've been showing it to friends and family and they were all saying 'oh my god!' as they all saw it too.

"I remember going to the castle. We used to go over there quite a lot as my mum and dad lived right nearby. But there was nothing unusual about the day at all.

"I just wanted to get a picture of the girls with the river and castle both in the background. I took quite a few and on other ones you can see right through the gap to the grass on the other side but on this one the figure is in the way.

"There's definitely something there. I can see the figure peering around the wall, stood side on. He has black eyes and his hands are in a position like he is drawing an arrow back."

 David Lonsdale was looking through old snap he'd taken of his daughters while visiting Rhuddlan Castle in Wales
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David Lonsdale was looking through old snap he'd taken of his daughters while visiting Rhuddlan Castle in WalesCredit: Mercury Press and Media Ltd

The castle, in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, Wales, was built by Edward I in 1277 following his conquest of the country in the First Welsh War.

David said: "I have no idea if it is a spirit or a ghost but it does look like he's drawing a bow to me. I certainly found it a bit weird.

"I have never seen anything like that before. I've never really had much of an interest in ghosts or any of that sort of thing but I've always had an interest in history

 David says the photo was captured using an old Kodak camera because he didn't have a digital one
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David says the photo was captured using an old Kodak camera because he didn't have a digital oneCredit: Mercury Press and Media Ltd

"I don't disbelieve in the spirit world but I have never seen any proof of it either. I have never seen any pictures before that have convinced me that anything exists one way or another.

"You can get drawn into UFOs and so on but I've never given it a lot of thought. But I thought I would share this as it's so unusual.

"I shared it on social media and people from all over the world have commented on it and many see the figure I am talking about.

 The 56-year-old was shocked when he spotted what looked like an ghost archer drawing his bow
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The 56-year-old was shocked when he spotted what looked like an ghost archer drawing his bowCredit: Mercury Press

"I probably took the picture on an old Kodak – I certainly didn't have a digital camera back then. I probably had to get the film developed so I may even have the negative for it around somewhere but I have no idea where.

"Since I showed the girls, Fiona was a bit freaked out by it but Sarah was less convinced – she's more sceptical of stuff like that. She saw the shape but is not sure what it is.

"But to me it does look like a figure and lots of people see it too."

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