To be really shitting myself? Think we may have a guest.

[beatrixkitto]

To cut a long story short........ Moved to our lovely detached (this is relevant) house at the start of the year and everything has been fine and dandy, we have plenty of space, 3 large bedrooms, family bathroom, downstairs w.c. conservatory etc.... The house is 30s style with bay windows etc

Anyhoo, a couple of months ago dh were in bed on a sunday morning a lovely bright morning, birds singing outside etc and started to hear banging noises coming from the attic it was coming from both the outside wall where the bay window is and the wall opposite (next to dd1 bedroom) as soon as I sat up in bed it stopped immediatley. Then the following weekend it happened again, this time I kept myself laid down with my eyes closed and it carried on for a good 5/6 mins untill there was a loud bang that shocked me and I sat up, again it stopped and DH and I had the "what the fuck was that?" conversation.

We haven't really thought about it or spoken about it until now, we have been upstairs with DD I have been in the shower etc, DH waiting to get out of work overalls and jump in etc and started to play with DD and is jumping around, doing a silly little dance etc to make her laugh and the banging started again only this time really loud and was echoing DH's banging. This happened around half an hour ago, it went on for around 10 mins.

If this is not a ghost what the hell else could it be? I am at home during the day with DD and am now bricking it for tomorow and being home alone.

I watched a film called Paranormal activity the other day, lots of banging in that.

We have recently caught rats in our attic you would not believe how loud and bangy they are!

Get some big traps up there with some poison -I'll bet my bottom dollar you catch something.

This is the time of year for critters to start coming in for the winter too.

PUT A VIDEO CAMERA UP THERE IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!

We used to have this happen. It was the arm on the cold water tank, the one that senses if the tank is full so stops the water coming in. It went a bit mad and would bob up and down. It was quite loud and pissed off the old lady next door - apart from that it was a bit of a nuisance.

I see you mentioned having a shower. Does it happen after you have flushed the loo/used the water.

Has anyone mentioned that it could be pipes?

Get Yvette Fielding in with her Most Haunted crew - I guarantee that as long as she's there, nothing will happen

Not that I watch it

My other advice is to wait until dark and go up there to investigate wearing only your underwear and carrying a candle, or a torch with an unreliable battery. Your mobile phone needs to be out of battery/credit/signal. This is standard practice for these situations, I understand.

It's the pipes. Call a plumber.

Is there anything loose on the roof, slates, flappy bits, chimney cowling or old skylight?

It absolutely is not a ghost but bats, jackdaws and rats can be very noisy.

:o @ *BalloonSlayer

I think for your own sanity you need to keep yourself convinced that it is either mahoosive rodents or pipes playing up. If it repeated DH's banging, it could be that the pipework beneath where he was jumping is connected to pipework in the attic.

Years ago we had an awful banging in our loft, after a lot of investigating it turned out to be the loft hatch lid banging up and down, when there was a window or door open somewhere else in the house it caused a through draft and the hatch lid rattled in the breeze. There's always a logical explanation, always.

I once lived in a haunted house - honestly. But it didn't make banging noises, just used to 'hang around' making a bad atmosphere. We ended up moving because I seriously couldn't bear being at home alone and needed 'escorting' to the loo at night

That probably hasn't helped has it!

From experience, mice can sound like someone (human-sized) running across a floor above. Don't know how they do it, but maybe en masse?

Another possibility: someone in York recently found she had a real 'lodger' in her loft (a homeless man).

It only just occurred to me - it could be Wolves In The Walls.

Blame Neil Gaiman, he can afford it.

It's probably the pipes. How old is the house? Chill!

Do you have an aerial on your roof? I would often hear very loud banging in the mornings when big fat pigeons landed on and flew from our aerial. It was just the aerial boinging backwards and forwards.

A possibility?

If not, its your pipes

PS we have had rats in the loft and they are incredibly noisy. The poos are like giant mice poo so might just be worth checking that out too.

another on to suggest pipes, specifically air in the system - bleed the radiators, then if that doesn't work call a plumber

whya re peopel so keen to say it;s not a ghost?

if you beleive in god, then you believe in the devil, and angels and spirts

op, are you religious?

at Badtasteflump being escorted to the loo!

I must admit to being a bit afraid of going from room to room, or upstairs in the dark .

It's because of - you guessed it - a story.

'Man-sized in Marble'.

I am an actual grown person whose house is lit up like a fairground at night, because I read that story whe I was twelve. That's a lot of years of light.

Did you ever see The People Under The Stairs?

If not that, then probably pipes or rodents. Put out a trap and see.