It might not be as well known as its fishing heritage, but for a time in the 1970s Lowestoft enjoyed the unlikely distinction as the UK's capital for paranormal research.

Now, a new play will highlight this obscure chapter in the town's history after securing almost £10,000 funding from Historic England.

The production will tell the story of the Borderline Science Investigation Group (BSIG), which was based in Lowestoft in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: A previous production from the Seagull CIC Lowestoft. Picture: The Seagull CIC Lowestoft

Through its quarterly magazine, Lantern, it investigated "unexplained phenomena" across East Anglia.

Among cases it reported were sightings of UFOs, Black Shuck and the Old Man of Hopton - who was said to stalk the A47 terrifying drivers.

Another article reported how bellringers at a Suffolk church heard ghostly footsteps as they practiced.

Many of the cases were extensively investigated by the BSIG.

On one occasion, they spent a night at a supposedly haunted shop on Norwich's Magdalen Street while they also researched mysterious standing stones in Mutford.

In total, 40 issues of Lantern were produced.

Among its editors was prominent Lowestoft author, historian and paranormal expert Ivan Bunn, known to many through his local ghost walks.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Lowestoft historian Ivan Bunn.Lowestoft historian Ivan Bunn. (Image: Archant © 2012)

The play will be staged at Pakefield's Seagull Theatre after the production was awarded £9,566 by Historic England’s Everyday Heritage grant programme.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The Seagull Theatre in Pakefield, Lowestoft. Picture: Seagull TheatreThe Seagull Theatre in Pakefield, Lowestoft. Picture: Seagull Theatre (Image: Archant)

A Historic England spokesman said: "Lantern, a locally-produced paranormal magazine, was an important part of the Lowestoft cultural scene in the 1970s.

"In partnership with local people, the Seagull Lowestoft CIC will explore the buildings and stories that were featured in the magazine.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The Seagull CIC Lowestoft project, called Lantern, will bring local people together to create and perform an original piece of drama celebrating the locally-produced paranormal magazine of the 1970s. Picture: The Seagull CIC LowestoftThe Seagull CIC Lowestoft project, called Lantern, will bring local people together to create and perform an original piece of drama celebrating the locally-produced paranormal magazine of the 1970s. Picture: The Seagull CIC Lowestoft (Image: The Seagull CIC Lowestoft)

"They will draw out the history discovered from the paranormal investigations of the BSIG, who produced the publication.

"Working with a professional writer and creative team, local people will create and perform an original piece of drama exploring Lowestoft’s heritage."

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The front cover of edition three of 'Lantern'. Picture: The Borderline Science Investigation Group/Hidden East Anglia website https://www.hiddenea.com/The front cover of edition three of 'Lantern'. Picture: The Borderline Science Investigation Group/Hidden East Anglia website https://www.hiddenea.com/ (Image: The Borderline Science Investigation Group/Hidden East Anglia website https://www.hiddenea.com/)

Tony Calladine, East of England regional director at Historic England, said: "I'm excited to learn more about these fascinating projects as they shine an important light on our working class heritage."

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The Seagull CIC Lowestoft project, called Lantern, brings local people together to create and perform an original piece of drama celebrating the locally-produced paranormal magazine of the 1970s. A previous production from The Seagull CIC Lowestoft.The Seagull CIC Lowestoft project, called Lantern, brings local people together to create and perform an original piece of drama celebrating the locally-produced paranormal magazine of the 1970s. A previous production from The Seagull CIC Lowestoft. (Image: The Seagull CIC Lowestoft)

GHOSTHUNTERS' ORIGINS

The third issue of Lantern, in autumn 1973, explains what lay behind the establishment of the BSIG.

"The organisation was formed in February 1971 by a small group of people interested in what can be called the 'borderline sciences' ie: Unidentified Flying Objects, E.S.P, Folklore, Witchcraft and other occult subjects," it says.

"In particular concentrating on the local East Anglian aspects of these subjects."

The group's aims were "to discover as much unusual and unexplained phenomena as possible" in the East Anglia region, "to investigate all phenomena" and "to document any findings" while reporting them "to the necessary bodies in a scientific and unbiased manner."