A "BRAVE" new owner is being sought for a popular pub and restaurant which is said to be haunted.

The leasehold has gone up for sale for the Edisford Bridge Hotel, Clitheroe, after current landlord Chris Gumm announced he was leaving after seven years at the pub.

Although Mr Gumm said he had not seen any ghostly goings on during his tenure, the area around the hotel, which sits on land adjacent to Edisford Bridge, has a long history with the macabre.

In 1934 Jim Dawson, 46, was murdered as he walked home to Bashall Hall from the hotel.

And in 1137 a mighty battle took place at the ford when the Norman forces based at Clitheroe Castle were ambushed by an army of Scots and butchered.

It was said that the Ribble ran red with blood following the battle.

Later on, a leper colony is said to have existed near to where the Edisford Bridge Hotel now stands.

The area has such a spooky history that ghostwalker Simon Entwistle, on his tours around Clitheroe, take visitors around the hotel.

Mr Entwistle said: "The pub is very closely associated to the Bashall Eaves murder of Jim Dawson in 1934.

"After being shot on his way home from the pub were he'd been drinking, Jim refused surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his shoulder and he later died.

"And there are reports that a ghostly figure has been seen near to the gate where Jim was shot."

Milton Keynes-based Christie and Co, which is handling the sale, described the pub and its surrounding area as having a "criminal" and "bloody" history.

Guy Mansfield, from Christie and Co, said: "This is a superb public house benefiting from both its location within the Ribble Valley and its historical criminal interest.

"The business offers exceptional potential for a new owner operator/proprietor to develop the business and trading income, whilst already benefiting from an existing strong trading position."

The hotel has a bar and 30-cover restaurant, three-bedroom owner's accommodation, beer garden and car park.

Mr Gumm, 41, said: "We've had an excellent time here. I'm originally from Feniscliffe in Blackburn and my partner was from Whalley so we were working for Jennings before in the Lake District so this was like a home coming for us.

"The pub as a good 50/50 split between wet and dry trade and we've had some good locals."

The current lease runs until January 2022.