Southend-on-Sea has always been a highly popular resort for holidaymakers. But in addition to the Essex town's many tourist attractions, the area is also a noted hotspot for much paranormal activity.

In Haunted Southend, the author, Dee Gordon, takes us on a fascinating - and quite spinechilling - journey through the resort's various houses, churches, pubs, restaurants, and even some very unlikely haunted locations. There are all manner of ghosts and ghouls in this well-researched book: the notorious Sea Witch, Sarah Moore, who would put curses on sailors if they did not give her any money, is said to haunt the Bell Wharf pub in Leigh's Old Town; the ghostly cleaning woman, whose apparition was witnessed by a late night security guard and who is said to prowl the corridors of the iconic landmark The Kursaal; the spirit of a man called George, who is said to have committed suicide by throwing himself off the roof, has appeared many times to staff at the Empire Theatre, Alexandra Road; a bricked-up skeleton in Royal Mews; ominous sounds and smells on the seafront. These are just some of the many fascinating cases that fill the archives of Southend-on-Sea.

The book includes stories from Canewdon, Stambridge, Hullbridge, Rayleigh, Foulness, Leigh-on-Sea, Westcliff-on-Sea, and Shoeburyness, drawing on both historical and contemporary sources. It also features both old and more modern ghost stories. There are exclusive interviews with eye-witnesses and previously unpublished investigation accounts

The book's closing chapter centres on the subject of phantom dogs, citing the case of a man called Leslie Cripps, who recorded his experiences of a ghostly hound on an audio cassette, which is now stored in the Essex Record Office. This case, as the book's author suggests, is reminscent of that of the legendary phantom hound, Black Shuck, whose stories have been with us since the time of the Vikings, who were associated with the Black Hound of Odin.

Whether you have ever been to Southend-on-Sea, or whether you just have a casual interest in the place, I am sure that you will find this book the ideal read with which to curl up on a cold, dark night. With over sixty illustrations and photographs to accompany the excellent text, Haunted Southend is a book that you have just got to add to your collection.

Haunted Southend is available from all good bookshops, Amazon, and The History Press.
Direct sales - telephone 01235 465577 or www.thehistorypress.co.uk