GHOSTHUNTERS prowling the York Dungeon believe they may have stumbled on some of the secrets of Jack the Ripper.

A group of devoted psychic seekers, who meet regularly to hold seances in the city's most haunted venues, claim they have been contacted by a spirit offering clues as to the London killer's true identity.

The group is led by the Ghost Research Foundation UK, and has been holding the seances throughout the summer as part of a bid to get more people interested in the occult.

Dungeon boss Helen Douglas says the terrifying spirit first made himself known during a seance at King's Manor, in Exhibition Square.

She said: "An unknown spirit made contact with psychic medium Angela Burrows, and spoke the names Annie, Elizabeth, Mary and Catherine through her.

"The visitor returned during a second midnight seance, held at the York Dungeon, and revealed himself to be wearing a long, dark coat, dark trousers and top hat - a stereotypical image of Jack the Ripper.

"When asked, the sinister spirit refused to show his face, but gave his name simply as James."

It was then that members of the group realised that the women's names were all those of victims of the Ripper, and that "James" could be James Maybrick, a prime Ripper suspect.

As a result of the seances, the Foundation has now begun a research effort called The Whitechapel Project, in which they will explore the murder sites and conduct further research into Maybrick.

Foundation parapsychologist Jason Karl said: "We are keeping an open mind on this. The main criticism we face is that the Ripper has no obvious connection to York.

"Our only feeling on that is that there are proven psycho-magnetic ley lines which criss-cross the country, and it is suggested that ghosts can use these as we use roads."

The group claims that video evidence taken during the seances reveal strange auras and figures - known as "orbs" - at the time of the encounters.

Those taking part also claim to have heard knocking sounds after Angela asked the shadowy figure to knock on the floor with his cane.

Maybrick was a Liverpool cotton trader with a shadowy personal life and an addiction to arsenic.

He was eventually murdered in 1889, with his wife Florie convicted of the crime.

He only became regarded as a Ripper suspect when his diaries came to light in the 1990s, and although Ripper experts question their authenticity, the diaries have never been proven to be false.

Jack the Ripper is thought to have murdered at least five prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London between August and November 1888, and his identity has never been established.

- If you know anything about the Ripper or Mr Maybrick, ring the GRF Ghostline on 07976 300709, or contact the group on 01932 227062.

- More seances will be held at the York Dungeon on a monthly basis, and all are welcome to join in. For more details, ring the Dungeon on York 632599.

Updated: 11:06 Tuesday, August 28, 2001