Pub Landlady Plans An Exorcism To Get Rid Of Ghostly Barman

A pub landlady is calling in an exorcist to get read of a ghost which she claims is topping up regulars' pints. Janice McCormack says the spirit is costing her a fortune as it tops up beers. Mrs McCormack, 60, said: 'I know it sounds very strange. But it happens when customers pop to the toilet or put their pint down for a second or two, and when they turn around there is an extra inch of beer.' She has nicknamed the ghost 'Reedy' after legendary actor and drinker Oliver Reed and said he has been haunting the Apsley House in Southsea, Hampshire, after she took over the lease ten years ago. Since January the generous ghoul has been mysteriously re-fuelling regulars' glasses. Mrs McCormack, who runs the pub with husband Patrick, said: 'My regulars love it but it is costing me because people are drinking less.'We are getting more people through the door but it seems to be people expecting a cheap, never-ending pint. 'It is all a bit strange and it is driving me round the bend a bit. It makes stock take an absolute nightmare.' To the disappointment of thrifty drinkers, she now plans to hold a seance to ask the poltergeist to quit, and if that fails, she will seek an exorcist to get him out. Regular John Sanders, 27, said: 'I will certainly miss old Reedy because he always keeps me topped up. 'It is a novelty but if the pub is going to lose money then perhaps he'll have to move to a different one. 'You were always guaranteed a hangover when you drank in the Apsley - and you'd always have money left in your pocket for a kebab on the way home.' The Apsley was formally a Victorian girls school before being used by city councillors as their offices and was turned into a pub in the 1960s.