Homes Under The Hammer star Martin Roberts lives with 'ghost with a shotgun'

Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts has a ghost with a shotgun who guards his 17th-century Welsh farmhouse – and he left out Christmas presents for the spooks.

The housing expert learned the history of the Edwards family, who lived in the country pile for generations, while filming new show Celebrity Help! My House Is Haunted.

Martin says: “I love my haunted house and now I know the ghosts’ names. I’m not the landlord – I’m the custodian.

“I sensed it straight away but nothing negative. While renovating I was talking to the house, saying I was here to help it.

“A historical investigator learned there was a woman, a little boy and girl, and a man sat in the living room with a shotgun. During one of the things they did I definitely heard the girl, Bryony, say, ‘Martin’.”

Due to his faith, Martin feels comforted by his unseen guests. He’s never seen them but always feels they are present.

He adds: “I’m religious, so I ­believe in the afterlife. They haven’t gone to heaven or hell so with the help of a paranormal expert, a pathway was opened for them to leave but they ­decided to stay.

“I put out stockings and Christmas presents – toys, a beer and slippers.”

Last month Martin, 57, took part in Strictly The Real Full Monty in memory of his best friend Dave, who died of bowel cancer. He says: “It was the most important TV I’ve done if I can help one person get checked.

“I wasn’t body confident, but I’ve never had such an outpouring of support.”

And following that I’m A Celeb star Martin is ­hoping Strictly Come Dancing will finally answer his pleas and call him up.

He laughs: “I could spice up Strictly. I’d love to see Craig’s face if I ripped off my trousers halfway through the rumba and showed off my leopard-print thong and did Leave Your Hat On.”

Martin is fronting the Gas Safe Register’s Winter House Whispers campaign and urging households to start off the new year by inspecting for any problems which need urgent attention. Research by the Gas Safe Register discovered homeowners are around £17billion out of pocket due to ignoring much-­needed works.

Leaky taps (named by 26%), draughty windows or doors (23%) , damp or mould (21%) are among the nation’s biggest grumbles.

Martin says: “Most people rarely have their gas appliances looked at. Every time I see a boiler in a bedroom I see a potential death-trap.

“The lives of you and your family are at risk, so see a gas boiler safety certificate like a car MOT or insurance – something you have to have.”

With energy prices expected to go through the roof this year, many will end up in fuel poverty.

Martin says: “If you’re working to a tight budget these costs are going to really hurt and my heart goes out to everybody struggling.

“We can take control over the ­energy we use by turning the central heating down. Make sure you don’t have gaps under doors, insulate lofts and use energy-efficient lightbulbs.”

● Gas Safe Register – the UK’s official gas registration body – has assembled “House Whisperers” including Martin to help the ­nation understand the risks of not dealing with niggling issues within the home.

To find and check with a gas engineer in your area visit GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.

● Celebrity Help! My House Is Haunted streams on discovery+ from Friday.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk