TWO women in Blandford Forum have taken on the task to find Dorset's hidden ghosts and paranormal activity. 

Blandford Forum residents Cathy Jacques, 48, and Sharon Churchill, 52, have become the area's first paranormal group as they hunt to find the town's hidden figures. 

Named Catching the Paranormal, the pair have begun investigations across Dorset, which includes searching an abandoned asylum in Gillingham for ghosts. 

Cathy said: "I've believed in the paranormal for a long time and I've always thought there's something else out there but I've never delved into it too much. I told my friend Sharon 'I'm setting a paranormal group, do you want to join me?' she agreed to as she's a medium.

"Our next investigation is at an abandoned asylum in Gillingham. People went there with mental problems and recovering from drug and alcohol addictions, so there's going to be a lot of history."

Although in early days of their investigations, Cathy has said there have picked up plenty of activity after investing in top of the range equipment. 

Their last investigation was at Knowlton Church and Cathy claims she and Sharon communicated with a spirit. 

She said: "We were at Knowlton Church last night and we use orbs that light up when touched by a ghost. That was happening while we were at the sight and through another device that allows us to speak to the spirit, it told us it thought the orbs were stupid.

"We want to go to haunted places and we want to be able to prove there is something. That's why we've got all this equipment because it's something we're really interested in and I know there's a lot of people out there interested in it but don't want to admit it."

Cathy believes a stigma still exists around believing in the paranormal that deters people getting involved.

The group invites anyone who wants to see it for themselves. 

Cathy said: "If people want to come along, we can take one or two of them, let them know the location. 

"Some people will just think you're mad and chasing after nothing and say to prove it. That's what we're trying to do."

For more information, visit the group's Facebook page.