Restaurant owners say they are being haunted by the ghost of a Frenchman and his son from the 1800s.

Moroccan restaurant Alimo is at the old train station under the railway bridge in Oxford Street, Whitstable.

But when the station relocated to its present site in 1915, a French rail worker, reputedly called Joseph, decided to remain in the old haunt with his son.

According to the owners of Alimo, the pair tread the length of the former platform above the restaurant.

Chef Mo Elassri said: “Upstairs is just a loft now, there’s nothing there but you hear these footsteps, and then a hand dryer will switch on by itself.

Owner Ali Ouachou claims he has often felt a presence following him down the corridor.

“Joseph isn’t a scary ghost,” says Mo.

“His presence is actually quite comforting in a strange way.” So much so, the restaurant is inviting Joseph to dinner – on Halloween.

"His presence is actually quite comforting in a strange way" - Ali Ouachou

Alimo is putting together a spooky menu with spicy pumpkins and ghoulish green shermoula sauces infusing the traditional cuisine.

“I don’t think we’ll be reserving a table for Joseph but I’m sure he’ll be floating around,” said Ali. “If you see a door opening or closing and no one around, that’ll be Joseph.”

Other buildings in the town, the home of Hammer horror star Peter Cushing, have also been affected by ghostly goings-on.

Staff at the Whitstable Nutrition Centre in the High Street reported seeing tea bags mysteriously floating in the air last summer, although paranormal researcher Hayley Stevens later cast doubt on the spooky story.