PARANORMAL films have given rise to a large number of groups looking to find out whether there is life after death.

One such group is the Canvey-based Afterlife Research Team, founded by Tracey and Raymond Day, of Canvey Road, 11 years ago.

The duo have been the team up to about 15 active members who take part in monthly trips to sites across the country.

Reporter Kirsty Hough was invited to one of their meetings.

I was feeling somewhat apprehensive as I pulled onto the drive where the two mini-buses where waiting, not knowing what to expect.

I have always been a little sceptical about the existence of ghosts, but was determined to remain open minded about the trip.

The friendly team loaded onto the minibuses to make the hour-long drive to Landguard Fort, in Felixstowe, which dates back to 1543 during the reign of Henry VIII.

The fort is hidden away close to a Felixstowe Port and would be easily missed if you didn't know it was there - a real shame as the fort is stunning in its scale and architecture.

We set up in the tea room and cameras were quickly put up in rooms and passageways around the fort before night fell.

Everyone that wanted to then took part in an orientation walk around the location, allowing people to get a feel for the site.

The fort is the site of the last opposed seaborne invasion of England in 1667 and the first land battle of the Royal Marines.

The current fort was built in the 18th century, and modified in the 19th century with substantial additional 19th-20th century outside batteries.

Glow sticks were put down by hazards such as steps, uneven surfaces and things poking out from walls as soon the sun would set and we would be plunged into complete darkness.

There were about 20 people on the trip - most part of ART but some were from another paranormal group GCUK and there were a few other guests who had come along for the experience.

We were split into teams of about five people and each team took a section of the fort to seek signs of paranormal activity.

Armed with torches, a voice recorder, a K-II meter which detects spikes in electro magnetic energy through a series of lights and a camcorder, my team set off to the wash room area of the fort.

It is a somewhat surreal experience wondering around a silent fort in complete darkness, clutching the little K-II meter and half hoping it lights up to show activity nearby and half worried that it will.

Entering an eerily abandoned room, you immediately get a rush of adrenaline and start peering suspiciously at any extra dark patches on the walls and floor.

The effect was made worse by the owners of the fort, English Heritage, having put up mannequins in some of the rooms, which look oddly human in the torchlight and really do send shivers down your spine.

I was pleased to see that every noise wasn't immediately put down to ghostly goings on - the swaying of some clothes on exhibition along one of the passageways was explained by a strong breeze and ghostly sounding footsteps explained as one of the other groups working close by.

However, it couldn't be denied that some of the rooms had a certain feel to them, especially in the bathrooms.

Baths had been left in the tiny rooms and the empty, rusting tubs were an eerie site.

The air was oddly oppressive and quickly two members got the feeling that a ghost was in the room.

Going by how they felt, they deduced that someone had been killed in the bath by being pushed under the water until they drowned.

Climbing into the bath to see if I felt anything, it was true that there was a feeling of panic and oppression leaking from the cold sides of the bath.

In another room, one member of the team saw a ghostly apparition of a man in uniform standing in the doorway.

After exploring the rooms, there was a chance to attempt to talk to the spirits using an ouija board.

"The film The Exorcist just gave it a bad press," someone reassured me. "They are quite safe really."

I was keen to give it a go and was shown how it was hard for any person to move the planchette, or movable pointer, without it being obvious.

It was a strange feeling watching the pointer move around as the spirit, who identified herself as Hilda, answered questions.

There was also a chance to spend some time in a room by yourself to see if any of the spirits showed themselves to you.

I sat in what would have been the jail cell and waited tensely for something to happen - other people had reported being pushed and unable to get out of the room.

Half sadly and half thankfully, if anything lurked in the room it wasn't interested in me.

Afterwards, we all filed into a room where some of the other members of the team had encountered a spirit.

The room is supposed to have been where a soldier who contracted the plague was left to die alone.

He had food left for him in one of the outer rooms, but had no human contact for five years before he eventually died.

The team put food down for the spirit, reassuring him aloud that we would stay to eat it with him.

When the footage is watched on a camera, you can see a small speck of light move to the food and then drop down onto it, as though the spirit is joining the meal.

Although I am still a little sceptical, it is certainly a nice thought that this lonely spirit found some comfort in us being there.

Despite the sun rising as we left the fort, everyone was in high spirits and singing and dancing as we made our way back to Canvey.

It was an experience I will never forget and one that I would recommend to anyone.

For more information, visit facebook.com/groups/rainbowparanormal/