KEEP your eyes peeled and you may get a little more than you bargain for when you visit The Waggon & Horses because a spirit of a different kind has been spotted behind the bar of the traditional Lymington pub.

Back in 1893, at the time of a police investigation into the death of a man believed to have shot himself from behind, local gamekeeper Henry Card did just that with a shot-gun he thought was empty just to prove it was possible.

Tragically, it wasn't and Mr Card died after suffering fatal head wounds in the incident, which happened in the pub's tap-room.

Legend has it that his spirit still lives on and his ghost was recently seen floating through the pub before disappearing through a wall.

"He is a nice ghost. He seems to keep himself to himself and just wanders around every now and again and check the place out," chuckled pub landlord Peter Smith, 57.

The pub's history, which began in 1643, is very much a part of its present.

For example, a lookout window on the side of the pub, from where customers used to spot the man who rowed passengers across Lymington River in the days before the bridge, remains.

"It is one of the few pubs unspoiled by being modernised," Peter said. "There are not many places like this left around."

Situated opposite Lymington Ferry Terminal and described as the last stop before the Isle of Wight' passengers waiting to board the ferry to Yarmouth as well as the ferry crews are traditionally among the regular punters.

Landlord Peter has had a job on trying to coax them back since taking over in January after the previous owner tried to turn the pub into a bistro/gastro-type venue "alienating much of that trade" he explained.

With the help of a reasonably-priced menu featuring an abundance of home-cooked favourites slowly but surely Peter feels he is on the road to returning the pub to where it used to be.

"I want to get it back to where it was two or three years ago when it was a proper local and somewhere for the over-25's to enjoy a quiet drink and the atmosphere."

The Waggon and Horses, Undershore Road, Walhampton, Lymington. Tel: 01590 672517