A TOURIST who came to York looking for ghosts found love instead - and now her spooky guide is moving to Switzerland to be with her.

There was an encounter of kindred spirits rather than the ghostly kind when Dan Dent, 33, of Fossgate, York, led Nicole Schmeling, 29, and a group of visitors around the city on The Ghost Hunt Of York.

Dan said he spotted Nicole, a banker from Zurich, during the hunt at Easter 2002, and at one point asked her to assist him.

But it was after the hunt had finished, and as usual the customers were invited for a drink, that love blossomed.

Dan said: "She was on holiday and was visiting Edinburgh when she decided to come down to York for the day. It was just by chance. The crowd wasn't that big that night and only three people came back to the pub.

"Nicole ended up staying an extra night because she met me. I suppose it was love at first sight.

"Since then we have been flying backwards and forwards to Zurich."

Dan, who is originally from Scunthorpe, but has lived in York for 13 years and has worked as a ghoulish guide for six years, is preparing to fly to Zurich tomorrow after Hallowe'en - the Ghost Hunt's busiest time - where he will consider setting up his own ghost or historical tour of the city.

It means his boss, Andy Dextrous, who runs The Ghost Hunt Of York, is left looking for a replacement guide.

Dan said: "Street work is a possibility in Zurich, because I also perform in King's Square in York, but I'm thinking about setting up a tour in Zurich.

"It's quite a big move but I'm optimistic about it. I'm looking forward to a lifestyle change, a new language and putting an end to the long distance romance."

Updated: 10:51 Friday, October 31, 2003