A pair of teenagers out for a Christmas dinner were astonished when they took a photo - and spotted a ghost child sitting at a party table.

Pals Sophie Killip and Kayleigh Lomas, both 19, met up for a festive get-together at a pub in Newcastle.

The pair were admiring the decorations and took a photo of the tree with lights and baubles – with the long tables set out for parties.

But they were horrified when around an hour later they examined the photo and saw a spooky ghost child sitting at the end of one of the tables.

[Related story: 8 signs that your home might be haunted]

The dark-haired child, who appeared to have cuts on her head and be wearing old-fashioned clothes, seemed to be staring straight at the camera from sunken eyes.

Spooked Sophie, a student, said: "The table was just one down from us and nobody was sat there so we took a photo of the decorations because they were really nice.

"There was nothing there at the time – but when we looked back at the photo we couldn't believe it. It was pretty scary and I felt creeped out.

"It looked like a little girl staring directly back at us. I could really see her, with the features and everything. I didn't believe in ghosts until I saw this photo.

"Nothing was sat at this table yet there is most definitely something paranormal in the photo."

The pair took the photo at Harry's Bar and Grill in Newcastle.

Sophie sent it to a friend who 'reads' ghost photos, who admitted it was the "clearest she had ever seen".

Photo credit: SWNS