For centuries, those working hard in the dark have reported strange sights and sounds lurking in the mines. From the deadly stare of the basilisk to evil spirits and fire demons, this was not a place for the faint of heart.

And yet the coblynau - the mine fairies of Wales - were said to be helpful souls who could lead the colliers to treasure buried deep in the caves.

From friendly to deadly, were these creatures mere superstitions, or is there more to these tale of haunted mines?

Join author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he heads deep underground for a paranormal investigation in search of the supernatural sources of these strange superstitions on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast.

In early 2020, Mark Rees launched the world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends.

By combining his unique research and insights from many books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes, this weird and wonderful podcast takes a fascinating look at the country's countless curious subjects.

New episodes are uploaded every Thursday and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to fantastical beasts from the Mabinogion and the skulled-headed Christmas favourite herself, the Mari Lwyd.

Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:

• Mark Rees homepage