GHOSTS and ghouls and things that go bump in the night don't bother many North-west people -- or so they say!

A new NOP survey commissioned to coincide with Hallowe'en reveals that only 26 per cent of people in the region admit to being superstitious.

Yet a whopping 62 per cent say they touch wood to avoid bad luck and nearly half will not walk under a ladder.

Touching wood stems from medieval times when sinners could claim sanctuary in a church as soon as they touched the wood of the church doors.

Pagans also believed certain trees had sacred properties and were lucky.

Walking under a ladder has traditionally been bad luck because the triangle it forms with the ground represents the Holy Trinity and walking into this invites disaster.

Other research carried out by Future365.com, a website which specialises in the paranormal which commissioned the survey, shows many adults are uneasy at Hallowe'en becasue they remember childhood fears of witches and goblins.

The most superstitious prefer not to undertake long journeys on October 31 and believe in wearing lucky clothing.

Women are twice as superstitious as men and those aged under 24 believe more in lucky rituals than those who are over 54.

Ali Durban, from Future365, said: "People in the North-west claim they are not superstitious but, when they examine their behaviour, they realise they follow lots of bizarre little rituals.

"The belief in bad omens and lucky charms also shows that people do not want a rational, scientific explanations for everything.

"We like a mystery and it is fun."

BAD luck if a mirror is broken -- It is thought that a person's reflection was part of their soul.

Breaking the glass was believed to prevent it returning to the body.

Not crossing the path of a black cat -- In the Middle Ages, black cats were thought to be witches in disguise, so to cross their path was dangerous .

Crossing fingers -- A sign of the cross that early Christians used to avert bad luck.

Lucky rabbit's foot -- Because they lived underground, rabbits were assumed to have connections with the forces of darkness so carrying a foot could ward off evil.

Throwing salt -- Salt is a symbol of life and friendship and spilling it is associated with quarrelling with a friend.

Throwing salt over a shoulder is asking that the ill luck will pass.