A WOMAN who fled to Sussex to escape from a "terrifying" poltergeist says she spent over a decade in fear it would strike again.

Shirley Hitchings escaped to Bognor Regis after being haunted by a mysterious being nicknamed "Donald" when she was just 15.

In what became one of Britain’s longest and most terrifying accounts of a haunting, Shirley and her family appeared to be plagued by the spirit.

Objects would fly around rooms, and fires broke out spontaneously. Mysterious messages were even left around their home in 63 Wycliffe Road, Battersea.

The Argus: Article on the case from the Sunday Graphic newspaper, with a photo of Shirley. Credit BBCArticle on the case from the Sunday Graphic newspaper, with a photo of Shirley. Credit BBC

Now a new Radio 4 drama-documentary podcast, The Battersea Poltergeist, is reinvestigating the paranormal events that took place from 1956 to 1968.

Speaking to The Sun, Shirley, now 80, said: “So much was written about it at the time. I would like to say what really happened — although I am nervous it might bring Donald back.

"I lived through the Blitz and I remember the bombs dropping, it was the same level of noise.

The Argus: “Shirley I come”, the first message allegedly written by the poltergeist. Credit: BBC“Shirley I come”, the first message allegedly written by the poltergeist. Credit: BBC

“The sound was coming from the roots of the house.”

It all began when Shirley was a teenager when she returned to her bedroom to find an ornate silver key ­resting on her pillow.

None of the family recognised it and from then on, strange things began to happen.

The household was woken by a loud banging that appeared to be coming from the ceiling and walls but events soon began to focus on Shirley.

Objects would mysteriously move. A clock fell from a shelf and a chair flew through the air by itself.

The Argus: Medium Harry Hank sits in the centre, Shirley and her Dad Wally are on the right. Credit: BBCMedium Harry Hank sits in the centre, Shirley and her Dad Wally are on the right. Credit: BBC

Perhaps most shockingly, a pair a pile of tea towels were set alight and Shirley was even thrown out of her bed, the covers ripped off.

She told The Sun: "I heard scratching coming from my headboard. It was horrendous. I’d say, ‘Daddy, Daddy, make it stop’. I didn’t know what was happening to me.

“But everybody was pointing the finger at me. I knew I was not doing this. I’d always been brought up to be honest and never lie.

“Dad asked me at one point if it was me and I told him no. He said, ‘That’s good enough for me’.”

Shirley and her father were questioned by police after they received reports that the "devil" was being summoned.

Grandmother Ethel was convinced Donald was the evil spirit and through holy water over Shirley. It didn't work.

She recalled: "Donald went berserk. The crucifix went flying across the room and her curtains were left in shreds, as if someone had got a knife to them.”

Shirley was unable to get a job and says she lost all her friends because of Donald.

However, the family got used to Donald as the years went on and "was even accepted as one of the family".

The Argus: Kitty Hitchings - Shirley's mum outside Number 63 Wycliffe Road. Credit: BBCKitty Hitchings - Shirley's mum outside Number 63 Wycliffe Road. Credit: BBC

In 1965 she and husband Derek, moved to Bognor Regis where they had a son, David, now 54, and daughter Karen, 52 — but Donald followed them.

Shirley told The Paper: "He’d leave messages telling me what my parents were doing and tell them what Derek and I were doing in great detail. He would snitch on us.”

Then suddenly three years later, Donald fell silent. He left a final message with her parents, saying he would leave the family in peace and “goodbye”.

The mysterious key, it was never found again.

Radio 4’s The Battersea Poltergeist is available on the BBC Sounds app now.