The ghost of Hampton Court?

To the sceptic it may simply look like a fuzzy CCTV image of someone in a long coat walking through a doorway.

Experts say the long-coated figure could be the best proof yet found that things really do go bump in the night... and the day too.

The mystery surfaced two months ago at the 16th-century palace, once home to King Henry VIII.

Security staff heard alarms ringing near an exhibition hall, indicating fire doors had been opened. But on investigation they found the doors closed.

Perplexed, they examined CCTV footage, and that is when it got spooky.

The cameras showed the heavy doors popping open but no one there. Then, suddenly, the long- coated figure appeared and slammed the doors shut.

The guards were told the same thing happened at the same time - about 1pm - the day before.

To add to the mystery, the doors also flew open at the same time the very next day. But the ghostly figure has been spotted only once.

The suspected spook has not just been sighted by CCTV. Australian tourists also claim to have seen a ghost near the exhibition area. The palace, in West London, has ruled out its guides as suspects because they do not enter that part of the building.

Psychologist Dr Richard Wiseman said the spectre, nicknamed Skeletor, might prove to be a significant discovery.

'It could be the best ghost sighting ever,' he said. 'I haven't seen anything that would match that at all.'