An Ilkley company selling real life 'ghostbusters' says business has been out of this world.

Instrumentation Systems & Services, based at the Drill Hall business park, supplies temperature sensor equipment to a wide range of industries including the electrical, food, manufacturing and paper.

Now it has developed a spooky sideline for pursuers of the paranormal by stocking hand-held Raytek temperature monitors - similar looking to ray guns - which have proved spookily ideal in the hunt for ghosts.

Managing director Philip Howard said he was amazed when he was contacted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which had been asked for help by ghost-busting companies looking for equipment.

"My first reaction was 'who are these nutters'? But the more I considered it, the more it made sense. The sensors give the temperature of whatever you are pointing at. If these people who hunt ghosts use the sensor in a room and there is a change in temperature, then this will register."

He added: "We're Raytek's best UK distributors for 2001, and we can't overlook the handful we sold to the ghost hunters in helping us achieve that record."

FSB area policy development officer for Yorkshire and Humber Denise Wilson said: "We always try to help wherever possible. This was one of our stranger requests, but we managed to put the companies in touch with one of our members."