Popular television characters The Addams Family are often associated with all things spooky and ghoulish, but their lives are purely fiction. Or are they? One family from Cheshire have been dubbed the 'real-life Addams family' after sharing their unique hobby of ghosthunting and their penchant for driving around in a hearse.
Jon Paul Kenny, Kymmi Jeffrey, and their two daughters Snow, nine, and Pebble, six, don't exactly look like the eccentric Addams family, but the four have had a keen interest in the afterlife ever since mum Kymmi was gifted tickets to a ghost tour by her teacher husband. The 37-year-old from Middlewich, Cheshire was sceptical at first, but after finding the experience fascinating, she "hasn't looked back since", even going on to set up her own ghost hunting events.
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She explained: "We loved it so much we decided to set up on our own and offer Ghost hunting experiences for people, as well as doing it as a family with our young daughters.
"I was so sceptical at first, I didn't really know what to expect.
"Being a therapist, I am quite a logical thinker and I always want to try and de-bunk our findings but sometimes there just isn't a logical explanation. They really do blow our mind sometimes."
In-keeping with their spooky hobby, parents Jon Paul and Kymmi splashed out the cash on a second family car - a hearse, which they have nicknamed Morticia.
The pair - who met whilst working in a school - enjoy taking the car out for a spin, and even drive it to Tesco and the pub, which is what has caused them to become known as the Addams Family.
"We initially thought [the hearse] would be the best way to advertise our business but we love it and use it as a family car," Kymmi said.
"We get a good response when we're out in it, people always stop to look and take photos.
"We've been to a few places in it, when I got out of it in Tesco car park you could see people's heads turning. We've also gone to the pub in it too, although it does take up two parking spaces.
"However, I don't think we could take it to work, I don't think the head teacher would be too pleased."
The younger members of the family have recently got involved in the ghostly hobby, with Jon Paul claiming their eldest, Snow, can see ghosts and often draws them.
He described his daughter's abilities as a "real superpower" as she often spots several supernatural beings - and is now branded "Snow Wednesday Addams".
He explained: "When we took Snow and Pebble to their first ghost hunting adventure, Snow first saw a solider type figure with a round head and a woman holding hands with a little girl.
"We know it is quite controversial taking your kids ghost hunting but we never go when it's late at night, we don't think it's anything to be scared about," he added.
"People think of ghosts as being something scary but it really isn't.
"At first we were a little worried what people would say, but we've had nothing but a positive response so far launching the business. People think it's really cool."
The family's love of ghost hunting allowed them to experience an unbelievable supernatural occurrence as the family now claims that they have another child - a 'ghost daughter'.
Although their third child is not physically present, Kymmi described that an attachment whilst ghost hunting was so strong, that she's convinced the child is hers.
The ghost always comes into contact with the family when they're on their adventures, with their own daughter drawing pictures of the ghosts that she sees.
Kymmi explained: "When we did the first tour, we saw a little girl and we feel like she attached herself to us as we always see her when we're ghost hunting. I feel like she is our third child."
While they might be ghost hunters by night, Jon Paul and Kymmi are a professional working couple in the day.
The dad adds: "It's like our alter-egos. We have this crazy side, which we absolutely love.
"People at work have started to hear more about what we do and they love it, they think it's fantastic.
"We drove the hearse through Deansgate in Manchester one Saturday and it was packed, you could see everyone on the streets just looking at us and staring. We'd never seen anything like it.
"We hope one day Snow and Pebble will take over the business, they love it as much as we do.
"We're still shocked by some of the things we've seen and there are no explanations for it. We're not going to stop ghost hunting any time soon."
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