SPOOKED bar staff are reluctant to work because a resident spirit keeps making its presence felt in their pub.

The ghost at the 15th Century Boot and Slipper pub in Rickmansworth Road, Amersham, which is one of the most haunted buildings in Bucks, is scaring staff so much that they are too frightened to go down the cellar or work on their own.

They are convinced the resident ghost brushes past them, puts a hand on their shoulder, mutters to itself and pulls the crisps off the walls.

Bar assistant Simon Kemp said: "Staff are getting a bit upset about it. They are too scared to go down to the cellar as there have been times where they feel something brush past and one guy felt a hand on his shoulder. They will only leave the building at the end of the night in twos. The members of staff have been worried - it's no joke."

He went on: "The other night a girl I work with heard some strange muttering. We checked everything to find out what the noise was but everything in here was turned off. She was in tears and very white. I am not a small bloke and even I confess to being absolutely petrified."

Dave Sherriden, pub manager, has tried to forget about the spectre as he lives at the pub.

He said: "I've only been living here for four months so I haven't seen anything yet, but I've been told all about it."

Peter Boakes, former assistant manager, said: "Some staff and myself were in the pub at one or two in the morning. We were sat opposite the bar and the crisps literally jumped off the wall. Four or five people witnessed it so I wasn't going mad. It really made us jump."

Call reporter Victoria Birch if you know anything about the pub ghost on (01494) 755090