A GHOST walker told today how he owes his life to a chance meeting during a spooky walk through haunted York.

Ray Alexander says he might well be dead had York surgeon Andrew Grace not decided to go on one of his Original Ghost Walks.

For when Ray happened to mention to the doctor that he was hard of hearing, it set in motion a train of events which eventually led to the discovery he was suffering from a brain tumour.

Ray, 56, of New Earswick, has now had the tumour - which was bigger than a walnut - removed in an operation, and he is back doing the walks only weeks after undergoing the surgery.

But, ironically, his original problem, involving 90 per cent deafness in one ear, is no better, as it was never caused by the tumour in the first place. It is now to be investigated separately.

Ray, who has been leading parties of ghost walkers through York for 13 years, said: "It all started on College Green at the end of a ghost walk involving a group from York Hospital.

"I mentioned that I was hard of hearing and among the group was Andrew Grace, a Consultant ENT surgeon, who suggested that I should contact my GP and arrange an appointment with him at the hospital."

He said Mr Grace was concerned by the results of a hearing test and ordered a brain scan.

"The scan didn't identify the cause of the of the hearing loss, but did reveal a tumour." Mr Grace arranged for him to see Paul Marks, a neurosurgeon at Leeds General Infirmary. The condition was kept under observation initially, but, after Ray's health deteriorated, the operation was carried out in October.

"When I woke up in the recovery room I was amazed. I felt no pain. It was such a relief," he said.

Ray said Mr Marks told him that within another fortnight, the situation would have been critical, requiring an emergency operation.

Updated: 09:31 Saturday, December 06, 2003