ONE out of this world experience promised for the Millennium Dome has materialised as a mere puff of smoke. The site is rumoured to have been haunted for decades by the ghost of gas works chairman Sir George Livesey. Former gas works employees claimed the spirit caused havoc, mysteriously messing up their offices.

The Millennium Experience Company enthusiastically took up the story claiming plenty of construction workers on the site had seen him laughing. When the News Shopper contacted the Dome organisers, they poured cold water on their own story and claimed no construction workers had seen him. A spokesman for the Millennium Experience Company said: "It appears that people who used to work there before have seen the ghost, but none of the construction workers have seen him."

Bearded Sir George made a lasting impression as a philanthropist, introducing a profit-sharing scheme for his employees at the South Metropolitan Gas Company. He was so popular that at his funeral 90 years ago, 7,000 people attended. His memory is kept alive at the Livesey Museum in the Old Kent Road where his statue stands in the gardens. Last year the News Shopper reported how old human bones were taken away from the site by police. It was rumoured the site could have once been a burial ground.

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