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The Badger's Set on the A456

It was nearly 30 years ago when Detective Constable Roger Ryder was driving down the A456 duel carriageway from Halesowen to Hagley at approximately 1am one warm summer night.

"I was wide awake and alert," he remembers. "And I stress that I hadn't had a drink! It was a lovely night – very quiet with no traffic for miles. I'd put my foot down, probably doing about 60mph."

As Roger came up Hagley Hill, the image of The Gypsy's Tent pub – now known as The Badgers Sett - came into view on his right, the other side of carriageway.

"Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the pub was lit up and glowing. I assumed there was a party going on. As I drew closer, suddenly the figure of a man ran out of the car park.

Roger at the scene of the 'accident'

"He was dressed like one of the old cavalier soldiers – the big hat, boots, red uniform and sword. My initial thought was that the pub was holding a fancy dress party and some drunk was larking about.

Eye contact

"He ran straight across the first two lanes of the carriageway and stopped right in the middle of the central reservation. As I approached, our eyes met. It all happened so fast but I remember thinking that if he starts running again I'll never be able to stop in time.

"Suddenly he sprinted out diagonally across the road in front of me towards Hagley Hall. I slammed my breaks on but knew, at 60 mph, it was too late. I went straight into him and swung the steering wheel right round.

The view from the car park

"My car screeched to a halt whilst spinning on its own axis a full 180 degrees. I finally came to a stop facing the opposite direction, the wrong way down a one-way main road, tyre smoke everywhere.

"I sat there in stunned silence clutching the steering wheel, thinking the absolute worst – I'd just killed a man. It was only later I recalled that there was actually no sound when my car collided with him.

"I was shaking by the time I got home. I woke my wife and told her everything. I've never been into ghosts – and never seen one before or since – but I'll never forget that night.

The A456 - Roger's side

“My wife is very keen on local history, and we've learnt that during the English Civil War there was a big skirmish between The Cavaliers and The Roundheads on Foxcote Lane, right near that spot on the A456. Lots of troops fled the battlefield in terror. Perhaps the explanation lies there."

Local legend

Reports of a 'haunted spot' on the A456 have been part of local folklore for decades.

Roger himself recalls telling his story to a group of friends one night.

"I don't know how we got onto ghost stories but I began to tell mine. Before I got to any of the details my mate said: 'You've seen The Cavalier haven't you?' I almost fell out of my chair!"

Halesowen-based paranormal investigators Parasearch, after hearing Roger's story, have put out an appeal for witnesses to other events that have happened on the A456.

David Taylor of Parasearch

"The account has opened up something of a can of worms," said Chairman David Taylor. "We've since had other reports of Cavaliers, a story of a little girl wandering down the duel carriageway several reports of a dark shadowy figure and two 'suicide' ghosts.

"We would like to hear from anyone who's had a strange experience along this stretch of road. All reports will be treated in strict confidence."

To contact David, e-mail david.taylor@parasearch.org.uk