Derek Acorah tells Charlotte Percival about summoning spirits in York.

AS ONE of the most haunted cities in the world, York doesn't seem to have a problem summonsing spirits.

As TV medium Derek Acorah puts it, they have been "queuing up" to get their messages across during his shows here over the years.

It's no bad thing, he reckons. The spirits love it.

So how does he feel about waking the dead?

"I get asked this question all over the world, " says former footballer Derek.

"They absolutely adore to come through, that's why they queue up. They're not at rest, they're doing things. They're busy. They're not in eternal sleep, that's just a myth."

York is a great place for a spiritual medium to visit, he says.

The Most Haunted star hosted Ghost Town Live from York last year and his two-night tour at the Grand Opera House in 2005 was all but sold out.

"Whenever I'm walking around York, there is so much action, so much activity and energy here, whether it's morning, afternoon or night, " he said.

"It's probably up there with Edinburgh and London."

He predicts some new faces in the audience when his show returns to York on January 30 and 31.

His show will take the same format as usual, he says. During his two hours at the Grand Opera House, he will contact the spirit world and pass their messages to the audience. Not everyone will communicate with their loved ones, he says, because there is not time, which is why he stays behind to do signings afterwards.

"Maybe a loved one will come through and say something kindred, " he said. "I try my best to talk with as many spirit people as I can."

Some people can be perturbed by the thought of their relative coming through, he admits.

To make them more comfortable, he comes down from the stage to talk to them directly. He will also check if he has the right person, so the message gets to whom it is intended.

He can understand why people can take some convincing about his work; he was not so keen himself when he was younger.

His spiritual emergence dates to the night when, aged six-and-a-half, he became aware of an intruder in his room. Later he was told that the man was his grandfather, who had died before Derek was born.

His grandmother was one in a long line of psychics, and Derek was the first man in the family to have the gift.

Later, he had a vivid vision during an art class and he informed his teacher that he had "seen" his wife writing a letter, then carrying suitcases.

The teacher discovered that his wife had left him, and Derek was suspended by the headmaster, only being reinstated after an intervention from his mother and grandmother. The teacher later asked him whether his wife would return; Derek foresaw no such happy ending.

He tried to ignore the spirit world, concentrating on his football talents, but once his sporting career ended, he returned to his destiny.

Years later, with as much passion as ever, he hopes people continue to give him a chance.

"Once they sit down and relax and see that there's not going to be any mystification it's a simple way of demonstrating this connection with the world of spirits, " he adds.

Derek Acorah, Grand Opera House, York, January 30 and 31, 7.30pm. Box office: 0870 606 3595.