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(Image: MERCURY PRESS)

Sharon Kearns, 46, visited the popular theme park with friends for a ghost walk led by TV show Haunted's host Brian Shepherd.

But the group were shocked when the mum-of-five spotted an eerie figure, believed to be the "lady with a long gown" who has "cursed" Alton Towers since 1821.

Mediums reckon Sharon's ghost was indeed that of the old beggar who put a hex on the land in Staffordshire, according to an old legend.

(Image: MERCURY PRESS)

(Image: MERCURY PRESS)

Alarmed Sharon, from Liverpool, said: "We were all shocked. It was very spooky.

"As we went round [on the ghost hunt] in groups, I happened to take a few random pictures.

"After the walk, we all went back to have cups of tea and we were going through our pictures. Someone then said 'you have something there' about one of my pictures.

"No one else had caught anything like mine. It caused a stir around those who saw it.

"It looks like a lady with a long gown on. Lots of people are saying that. Lots of people can see what I see."

(Image: MERCURY PRESS)

Legend has it the beggar placed a curse on the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury Charles Talbot and his family in the 19th century. A family member died the night the homeless woman apparently haunted the earl.

Sharon added: "I am quite scared but I would love to fully believe it [the legend].

"When I look at that picture, I think 'hang on a minute, maybe there could be something there'.

"To me it looks like a woman, there's definitely something there."

She continued: "I think differently after seeing that as I know it's my own picture.

"I'm now a lot less sceptical and believe it now."

Chris Carter, Head of Entertainments at Alton Towers Resort said: “If these ghoulish sightings are anything to go by this could be our creepiest Scarefest yet. Sharon’s sighting is even more eerie as our team had their own supernatural experience when planning for this year’s Scarefest celebrations.

"We travelled to abandoned Californian ghost town Bodie; deserted since 1942, to get inspiration for our new Altonville Mine Tours maze. Our time-lapse cameras picked up a yellow orb and bright flash in one of the buildings, which no-one can explain.

"It was the middle of the night and the park was deserted. We were all really spooked when watching the footage back.”

It comes days after the company which owns the attraction was fined £5million over the Smiler ride disaster.