GHOSTLY Christmas stories are making an early return to Colchester.

And what better way than with one of its most miserly residents.

Thomas Humm, who died in the early 1820s, was considered to be the Ebenezer Scrooge of Colchester.

Master storyteller Derek Wray, from Colchester Ghost Tour, said that when property owner Mr Humm died his wardrobes were found stuffed with silk shirts which had never been worn.

He said: “Thomas Humm was the miser of the town and although he was really rich, he dressed in rags.

“He used to hitchhike to and from London to collect his gold, sleeping in ditches and living on bread and water.

“One night two highwaymen grabbed him, but he was so badly dressed and spun them such a hard luck story that they gave him sixpence to help him on his way.

“Now he’s been seen around the town and people thought he was a zombie because he was dressed is rags.”

Thomas Humm is just one of the stories which Mr Wray plans to use to reintroduce Christmas ghost storytelling.

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