Staff at the Hampshire Chronicle are to move to new offices later this year.

Editorial, advertising, newspaper sales and marketing staff at the Winchester paper will move to a new building with improved facilities in the autumn.

But there is one special ‘fixture’ they don’t want to leave behind – the building’s resident ghost.

Editor Alan Cleaver said: “I have put an appeal in the Chronicle for any ghostbuster or psychic who can help with the problem.”

The Newsquest title, which started in 1772, has been based in its current High Street offices for almost 200 years and there have been a number of reported ghostly visitations, usually that of a woman clanking machinery in part of the building that housed cottages and a small printing press until the existing premises were built in 1897.

Alan said: “All the staff are adamant: They want the ghost to go with them.

“When I broke the news to them I thought I’d thought in advance of every question they might ask but when they wanted to know if the ghost was coming as well I was truly lost for words!

“And now I just don’t know what to do. Do I leave our grey lady a map? Do we leave a seat for her on the removal van – just how do you ‘move’ a ghost?

“I think that after nearly 200 years of wandering the corridors of the Hampshire Chronicle she might appreciate a change of scenery.”

Staff will be moving 300 yards up the road to new offices in Staple Gardens, Winchester, with office accommodation over two floors, although it is hoped that the Chronicle’s front office will remain at 57 High Street.

Chronicle group publisher Paul Kinvig, said: “Our lease expires this year and the building is in need of substantial refurbishment, necessitating us vacating the majority of the site.

“The move will ensure a secure future for the 232-year-old paper. It also provides our staff with a modern office including easy access for the disabled.”

Alan added: “Even though we are moving it won’t affect the look and quality of the paper.

“The paper has been in various locations in Winchester since we first moved here from Southampton in 1778. It’s super that we remain in the heart of the city and the news has been received positively by staff.”

Staff from the group’s free paper, the NewsEXTRA, will also move to Staple House.

The paper’s phone numbers and e-mail addresses will remain the same.

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