After cautiously entering their home, the family turned and fled after hearing banging upstairs and the sound of someone walking around.

They dashed to St Paul's Church and explained what had happened to parish priest Father Richard Masshedar.

After enlisting the support of her mum, Kathleen Galloway, Beverley, her two-year-old daughter, Ellie, Daniel and Ethan all spent the night huddled together in one bedroom.

Throughout the night they claim a smoke alarm mysteriously bleeped with heavily-pregnant Beverley managing just one hour's sleep.

Yesterday afternoon, Father Masshedar visited the family to offer support and say prayers for them.

He said: "I went to see the family as a first step and to offer prayers.
"We take it one step at a time and the first step was for me, as parish priest, to visit the family with a church warden."

The landlord, who told the Mail it was the first time he had ever come across such a happening, said that if the family were too upset to stay at the house they would be moved as soon as another suitable property became available.