Staff at a Pimlico charity shop have been left spooked by a series of unusual events which they have blamed on a mischievous ghost, writes Sophie Exton.
Tim Briggs, manager of the Red Cross shop in Ebury Street, first noticed the phantom when he was alone in the basement and the clothes steamer mysteriously switched itself on.
Another time, he left an old pocket watch on the sorting table while carrying out research into how much it was worth, when it vanished overnight.
When he looked through a bag of new donations, Mr Briggs was shocked to find the watch tucked in between cashmere jumpers.
Staff have also reported objects unaccountably moved around the shop and feeling very cold in the basement.
The freaky antics have been attributed to Alfred Cross, who was a butler during the Edwardian period when the building was a family home.
Mr Cross was found dead in the basement but the circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery.
Mr Briggs said: “As butler of the house, Alfred Cross might have had to steam his master’s clothes and he would have had good time-keeping, so that might explain his interest in the clothes steamer and the pocket watch.
“Or perhaps he keeps coming back because he wants to show his support for the Red Cross.
“People who live near the shop have come in and told us they think the basements of their houses might also be haunted.
“The ghost is more mischievous than frightening but I do sometimes get an eerie feeling when I’m doing stock takes.”
Assistant manager Ruth Sullivan added “There is definitely something spooky about the shop.
“At night when I close the shop, it often feels quite cold and as if there is a presence.”
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