Joanne Morris from Harborne is recruiting local residents to help her in her quest to delve into mysteries of the unexplained and paranormal in Birmingham.
 | | Have you had any ghostly sightings? |
She's set up the first Birmingham-only website for Brum residents to exchange their own stories about ghostly encounters and aims to use it as a forum for actively investigating the unexplained. "I've always had a passion for the paranormal," says Joanne. "I grew up in Harborne in a late Georgian townhouse. My whole family experienced some very strange things. "Sightings, apparitions, spirits – my sisters would wake up with scratches and physical harm done to them. We would hear voices calling our names. It was very scary. In the end my parents sold the house for way below its value they were in such a rush to get out." "I've researched the subject a lot in recent years and found that there were no websites dedicated exclusively to Birmingham sightings; no forum for people of the city to interact. That's where I got the idea for the site." Birmingham Ghosts and Hauntings
 | | What's that noise? |
Joanne has set up 'Birmingham Ghosts and Hauntings' to allow people who've experienced strange phenomena – or are simply interested in the paranormal – to get in touch with each other, exchange stories and keep up-to-date with the latest Birmingham developments in the supernatural. Far from being simply a website though, Joanne is putting together a team to act as real life ghostbusters, to visit haunted locations and attempt to gather evidence of spiritual activity. "If we get calls or e-mails from anyone and we think there is a genuine reason to investigate then we will. At the moment, I'm looking paranormal historians who are aware of local history and haunted spots and are able to offer informed explanations for what might be responsible if someone has experienced something strange there. "Also, I'm looking for photographers, paranormal investigators and local psychics or mediums that may be able to help. We hope to arrange overnight investigations at known haunted venues.
 | | What was that noise? |
"Obviously, there very often are perfectly simple explanations for strange incidents – but sometimes there aren't. That's where Birmingham Ghosts and Hauntings comes in." Contact If you're interested in joining Joanne's team, or have stories of the unexplained, visit http://www.birminghamghosts.webeden.co.uk/ for information, or e-mail joklocek@hotmail.com | 
