OWNERS of a haunted pub are gearing up for their biggest night of the year – but will 'special guests' make an appearance?

Ye Old Man and Scythe in Churchgate has been the scene of spooky going on for years and paranormal experts are set to hold a ghost hunt there on Halloween.

Specialist investigator Don Philips will lead the way and former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel will host the evening.

Organisers will stream the event live on the 'Is This Paranormal' Facebook page and, though the ghost hunt's 11.55pm start time might be too late for some Bolton residents to tune in, it will be primetime viewing for other viewers.

"Halloween is popular in the UK, but it is an even bigger occasion in the US and we are expecting many viewers from across the Atlantic, especially because they are a few hours behind. It is their primetime," said the pub’s landlord Richard Greenwood.

He added: "Our videos have done very well on Facebook before and there is a big audience in America who are interested in us, so I'm hoping we might get millions of people watching."

But will the event be enough to convince cynics that things actually do go bump in the night?

Mr Greenwood said: "The previous investigation produced enough evidence to substantiate the claim that Ye Olde Man and Scythe is haunted — by who or what is to be determined.

"Don recorded lots of noises that cannot be explained and there is a definite supernatural presence in the building.

"The next part of the investigation will go deeper in the search for answers."

The ghost hunt is invitation only and is set to finish at 2am on Tuesday.

However, the pub is inviting guests to a question-and-answer session with Mr Philips and Mr Lancel about the pub’s history and ghost hunting at 10pm on Monday.

The pub was first recorded by name in 1251 and is the oldest in Bolton, and among the ten oldest pubs in Britain.