Day or night, you won't miss a story with the Liverpool Echo newsletter Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

An experienced ghost hunter captured what he claims is a chilling picture of a haunting figure BEFORE beginning a tour of an old asylum.

Phillip Barron said he has taken hundreds of photos over the years but have never seen one so vivid he wasn’t able to debunk.

The 45-year-old told how the ‘ghost-girl of Newsham Park’ has caused a stir on Facebook as none of the other people in the image recognise the figure.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

He said: “We always begin our ghost hunts with a picture of the group, I have done this many times and this is exactly what I did. I took the picture on my phone and just put it in my pocket, I didn’t even look at it.

“It wasn’t until the next morning, after it had been posted to Facebook with other pictures from the night, that I saw it.”

(Image: Haunted Happening/ Phillip Barron)

Phillip, who hosts events for Haunted Happenings , says he has been ghost hunting for around 12 years and finding the truth is a key part of the process.

He said: “I have never come across anything like this before, of course we tried to debunk this straight away.

“We asked everyone who was there if they remember this person, but they don’t.”

(Image: Haunted Happenings) (Image: Haunted Happenings)

The team Phillip works with has no idea who the ghoulish shadow could be despite it being the site of a sanatorium from the 1800s and a mortuary.

Newsham Park Hospital is often considered one of Liverpool’s most haunted buildings and since its closure in 1992 the building has fallen into a state of disrepair.

(Image: Haunted Happenings) (Image: Haunted Happenings)

First built in 1869 the grade II listed structure was put on the market in 2007 for £1.5m after plans to turn it into flats were met with resistance from local regeneration campaigners.

Inside, it is littered with broken beds, commodes and trollies from its time spent as a hospital.

(Image: Haunted Happenings)

On the top floor, an attic is lined with cupboards - which were used as ‘naughty’ cupboards to lock misbehaving children inside.

The winding staircases come with ‘anti-suicide’ grills and lead to seemingly endless treatment rooms and laundry rooms.

Phillip has been ghost hunting at Newsham around 20 times, he added: “I have seen shadows, and people have had strange feelings, but nothing like this.

“Newsham is a fascinating building and when we tour, we guide the guests, but they all experience different things.”