An applicant with plenty of spirit is being sought for a new Lyme Regis job vacancy – as an apprentice ghost.

The spooky situation vacant has arisen as the town's resident ghost guide needs a replacement to shadow him as he shows visitors around all his old haunts.

Current Grim Reaper Carl Salter is planning a holiday to Australia next summer and is seeking some new blood to train up.

Carl has been running his summer season ghost tours for six years and provides ghost-hunters of all ages with an hour-long trip around Lyme.

This summer will provide the chance for a new spirit guide to get to know the ropes, before taking on the post next year during Carl's absence.

“Candidates will need to be outgoing, with the ability to tell a tale and they must have a good sense of the ridiculous,” says Carl, who used to run a pleasure boat, the Maid of Lyme, out of the town and regaled visitors with talks.

Anyone who is possessed by the desire to take on the role can turn up at one of the ghost walks – preferably in character – on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings at 7.30pm from outside the Lyme Regis Museum in July and August, weather permitting.

The walks cost £3.50 to join (£1.50 for kids) and under-tens free.