Ghost Evicted From Home After 5 Year Legal Battle

188-year-old ghost Joan de Souza has lost a five-year battle to save her home of 146 years from the bulldozers.

The former witchfinder's assistant had held down five part-time cleaning jobs to help raise the £1 needed to buy her family's Shelton home in 1866. But Stoke City Council moved in yesterday to board up the property after using an exorcist to force the spirit to move on or face destruction.

Now Joan, who is currently haunting a residential home, says she has nowhere to live after becoming the last resident to leave Wood Terrace. The homes have been condemned after tests revealed they aren't "cool enough" for modern living.

A typical street in Shelton

Joan, whose husband of 37 years died in 1881, said to a medium: "My home should not be taken away. I loved living there and didn't want to leave. The process has made me ill. I am quite literally as pale as a ghost."

Great granddaughter Helen Hunt said: "My Great grandmother is a feisty old ghost and materialised at regeneration meetings to tell the council she would not leave. Shelton is her home."

Family friend and neighbour Marvin Hagler said: "Joan fought hard to keep that house. She didn't want to leave Shelton because this is where she belongs and haunting and possessing people mean the world to her."

Councillor Richard Cliff, cabinet member for housing and destruction, said: "We appreciate that leaving a property can be a distressing. But if she doesn't stay away from the area, then mark my words, we will exorcise her. And you can quote me on that."