A MYSTERIOUS fire which devastated a supposedly haunted house in the early hours of Hallowe’en has sparked an investigation.

Shortly after 6am on Tuesday, 31 October, police and other emergency services were called to an isolated and remote property, Pantywennol, in Mynytho near Pwllheli after reports of a house fire which had gutted the rural home.

Police have asked for witnesses of any “suspicious persons or activities” in the area at that time.

The house is the subject of a local legend, ‘Bwgan Pantywennol’, and is supposedly haunted, with suggestions of devil worship taking place at the property in the 1800s.

The legend, kept alive by word of mouth, was the subject of a novel penned last year by local author, Ruth Richards, and tells the tale of a young woman obsessed with the supernatural who causes a chain of events that unleashes an evil spirit into the house.

Firefighters were quickly on the scene - hailing from Abersoch, Nefyn and Caernarfon - and were able to bring the fire under control.

The crews remained at the scene for several hours after to ensure the blaze was fully extinguished.

The house was unoccupied at the time so no-one was injured but the property has been “extensively damaged”.