Yoooo've been framed: The ghostly images voted best in the world



At first glance, they are barely there. But take a closer look and there's no doubting the phantom faces staring back at the camera.



What's not certain is who they are... or how they got there.

The pictures were entered into a competition to find the world's best ghostly goings-on captured on camera by amateur photographers.

Mirror image: Sceptics believe the face in a car, snapped in Mexico, could either be a reflection of a headrest, someone standing nearby or the result of digital manipulation



Face at the window: The winning picture shows a ghostly, elderly face - but could it be a tourist?



Spooky: The figure sports a ruff (possibly a scarf...) and appears to be gripping the railings



In the ruins of a Scottish castle, an elderly woman apparently peers down from a window.



She seems to be wearing centuries-old clothing, including a ruff.

Even more bizarrely, according to the man behind the camera, no such figure was there when he took the picture - which was declared the winner of the contest.



The image was captured by Christopher Aitchison at Tantallon Castle in North Berwick, East Lothian, in May last year.



Detailed examinations have concluded the image has not been manipulated.

Mr Aitchison said: 'I took the photograph at around 3pm.



'I was not aware of anyone or anything being present in my picture, only noticing the anomaly when I got home.



'Staff have verified that there were no sinister dummies in period costume or historical re-enactments going on that day.



'I did not notice any nice old ladies in ruffs walking around the stairs.'



The snap was judged the best of more than 250 submitted to a study being run as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.



About a quarter of a million members of the public voted on the eerie images, and gave Mr Aitchison top spot, with 39 per cent believing it to show a ghost.



Sceptics argued that the figure could simply have been an unnoticed visitor or have been formed by an unusual reflection of light against the wall and grille.



One of the favourite runners-up was the photo which seems to show a face in the wing mirror of a car.



Three's company: The image looks sinister - but was someone walking quickly past the shot?



About a quarter of a million members of the public voted on the eerie images, and gave Mr Aitchison top spot, with 39 per cent believing it to show a ghost.



Sceptics argued that the figure could simply have been an unnoticed visitor or have been formed by an unusual reflection of light against the wall and grille.



One of the favourite runners-up was the photo which seems to show a face in the wing mirror of a car.



Richard Wiseman, the University of Hertfordshire psychologist who ran the experiment, is a sceptic when it comes to the supernatural, and said that the importance of faces to our lives means our brains are programmed to see them even where they do not exist.

But while he says he can explain away the other photos, the winner has planted a seed of doubt in his mind.

The ghost on the beach: The photographer claims there is a figure in the water with its hood up - or then again, it could be an indentation in the rock face



This figure appears to be facing out to sea, possibly fishing

Richard Wiseman, the University of Hertfordshire psychologist who ran the experiment, is a sceptic when it comes to the supernatural, and said that the importance of faces to our lives means our brains are programmed to see them even where they do not exist.

But while he says he can explain away the other photos, the winner has planted a seed of doubt in his mind.

He said: 'My best guess is that it is a member of the public but I can't be 100 per cent certain.



'It looks spooky which is why it has done so well. But what we have proved is that most great ghost photos are nowhere near as good as people think.'



Researcher Dr Caroline Watt, of Edinburgh University, said: 'If ghosts are out there, it seems they are somewhat camera-shy.'

If you look to the far left of this picture an apparition can be seen lurking in the trees. In a close-up, right, a head with two holes for eye-sockets can be seen in the top left-hand corner

