Eerie pictures capture the moment a ghostly ‘grey lady’ appears to hover in the sky above an abandoned Kent village.

The chilling images were taken in Oxney Bottom, at Ringwould near Deal, and photographer Chris Johnson insists they are “100% genuine”.

He told KentOnline he can’t explain what he saw – but disagrees with those who believe it was a trick of the light.

“These photos are 100% genuine and have not been tampered with,” Mr Johnson said.

“The Grey Lady has been a topic in the local area for many years.

“I can’t explain it but it was not the light and the figure was high in the sky.”

According to local folklore, The Grey Lady has haunted Oxney Bottom for many decades – and there aren't many people in the Dover district who don't know of someone who has seen her.

Mr Johnson took the pictures on December 22 at 9.30pm and sparked a huge debate when he shared them online.

Sue King put forward the theory that the images were due to a “Brocken spectre”.

“This is when you're surrounded by fog but the sun from behind you projects and magnifies your shadow,” she said.

“It’s a really great spooky-looking picture but a totally natural phenomenon.”

But many others online were inclined to believe The Grey Lady story, with some claiming to have witnessed her themselves.

“I've seen this with my own eyes 4.30 in the morning go across the road in front of me!” said Robbie Lee.

The village of Oxney Bottom is hidden by trees just off the A258 Dover-Deal Road.

Dating back at least to the 11th century, it is a mystery why it became abandoned. Some believe it might have lost its inhabitants to the plague.

The Oxney Court estate, with its remains of a ruined church, is now private property. Parts of it are Grade II-listed.

Various sightings of The Grey Lady have only added to the intrigue surrounding the village.

In 2018, Ellise Begg claimed to have captured the mysterious spirit on camera.

She said at the time: "My cousin and I were talking about haunted places and we decided to go to Oxney Bottom.

"I got a picture because the way the light shone through an arch in the trees was pretty.

“It wasn't until we got home that my cousin pointed it out.”

Some believe The Grey Lady was killed in an accident, while others claim she had her heart broken and haunts the area where her lover resided.

Another school of thought is that her body was interred at the Chapel's graveyard while some say the area, which was once a village of its own, experienced mass deaths from the plague between 1665-1666.

With the latest “sighting”, not everyone is convinced.

”How can anyone believe what they see on social media with all the Photoshop going on,” said Cliffan Silverwood.

“This is too easy to fake.”

Shirley Williams joked: “It’s just someone out wearing a ridiculous dry robe while dog walking.”

What do you think it could be?