RESTLESS spirits at Wales' oldest and most haunted pub are coming to terms with new owners Daryl Hardy and his partner Maria Appleton.

Glasses were mysteriously sent flying at The Skirrid Mountain Inn at Llanfihangel Crucorney earlier this year when former landlady Heather Grant attempted to sell the pub.

Maria said: "We're trying to be as respectful as we can and I don't think we've disturbed anyone yet."

But daughter Francesca, 12, disagreed: "I thought I saw a face staring at me through a window," she said.

There's good reason to take "sightings" seriously at The Skirrid - 180 rebels from the Monmouth Rebellion were hanged there in 1685.

The Skirrid has been an inn since 1110 but is most famous for its use as Judge Jeffreys' courtroom in the wake of the rebellion.

The judge was sent west by the Catholic King James II to brutalise the local population for supporting the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, (another James) in his failed rebellion.

Jeffreys hanged 180 rebels from a beam beneath the Skirrid's staircase.

The beam stands today and bears chaffing marks from the hangman's rope.

Macabre tales are appreciated the world over and Daryl is setting up a website to cater for international interest in The Skirrid.

And in January the production company behind the TV series Most Haunted will set up night-time cameras and microphones in the hope of one of the spirits making a personal appearance.

But Daryl and Maria won't be watching out for it: "We'll be keeping our heads under the duvet," they said.

Daryl was assistant manager at The Langdale Leisure resort in the Lake District and Maria worked for South Lakes authority as Kendal's town centre manager. "We were looking for a new challenge," said Daryl, "and they don't come with more history or more atmosphere than The Skirrid."

The inn has an ancient wood-panelled restaurant, big fireplaces, two bars, an old ship's bell for calling last orders, and three visitors' bedrooms.

The couple now plan to boost the food side of the pub.

"We're going to focus on building up the menu by offering traditional recipes using good local meats and fish," said Daryl.

The couple moved from the Lake District to take over yesterday morning.

They were immediately tested by the arrival of ten grouse shooters looking for a hearty breakfast.

"We knew they weren't ghosts by their appetites," said Maria.

* Pictured, landlady Maria Appleton and landlord Daryl Hardy, new owners of The Skirrid Inn