SPOOKY goings-on at a historic hotel will be televised on a prime-time reality TV show.

But the paranormal investigators themselves are under the microscope on Channel Five show Britain's Psychic Challenge.

The psychic sleuths descending on North Yorkshire are the latest in a growing list of ghosthunters and mediums attracted to the area this month.

Hot on their heels is renowned paranormal expert Derek Acorah, who will meet some of York's spookiest residents as part of his Living TV show, Ghost Towns Live, later this month.

Even North Yorkshire author Graham Taylor, pictured, is getting in on the act, presenting Uninvited Guests, a six-part series about the paranormal on ITV1 Tyne Tees. The show started last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the first instalment of Britain's Psychic Challenge - presented by Trisha Goddard - was shown on Five on Sunday.

Producers chose the Macdonald Black Swan Hotel in Helmsley to host a forthcoming episode.

Yesterday, six psychics each held a vigil there, trying to get to the bottom of some of the building's reported ghost sightings.

The contestants demonstrated their psychic abilities by recounting what they sensed during their stay. The results will be replayed to a sceptical studio jury from York, and the least successful psychic will be eliminated.

One of the competitors, 47-year-old medium Anna Galliers, said "strong energies" were attracting her and others to the area.

According to astrologer Jonathan Cainer, York itself lies on top of a crossing point of powerful 'ley-lines' - hence the surrounding area's spooky reputation. Mr Cainer said the city "sits right on top of a cosmic energy centre".

Mrs Galliers said: "I've never been to North Yorkshire before, but I'd heard of the area's reputation.

"As I walked round the hotel I 'linked in', and felt very drawn to the stairs. I was very aware of a pretty little girl running past me in a Victorian dress."

Mrs Galliers, from the West Midlands, said she had joined the programme to show that not all mediums should be "tarred with the same brush". She said: "Like any field of work, there are charlatans, but there are plenty of sincere mediums and psychics out there."

The Helmsley show will be broadcast on Five at 8pm on Sunday, January 29, with the eventual winner being declared later this year.

Mrs Galliers said it would be "better not to look" into the eventual outcome."I try not to think about it too much. If you really want to look into that, you might get a feeling, but it is better not to."

Top York hauntings

Roman soldiers at Treasurer's House, seen by plumber Harry Martindale in 1953

The Earl of Northumberland's headless corpse, seen at Holy Trinity Church in Goodramgate

The Grey Lady of the Theatre Royal

The Tudor Lady of King's Manor

The Golden Fleece, Pavement, said to be haunted by Lady Alice Peckett - among many others

The Snickleway, Goodramgate: many spirits, including an elderly gentleman in an old-fashioned suit

Roman Bath pub in St Sampson's Square: two Roman men sitting on old latrine in bath house

Updated: 09:41 Tuesday, January 17, 2006