Ghost hunters gathered at the gates of Blickling Hall this week hoping to catch a glimpse of headless queen Anne Boleyn on the anniversary of her execution 478 years earlier.

Henry VIII's ill-fated queen is said to return to Blickling, her childhood home and possible birthplace, at midnight every May 19.

Jo Bosch, marketing and visitor manager at the National Trust stately home, said that, as usual, about 25-30 people had kept a late-night vigil at the gate, in case of ghostly goings-on.

They were joined at midnight by about 50 more who had been in the hall listening to ghost tales told by local historian Neil Storey.

Legends say that Anne, with her severed head in her lap, appears seated in a ghostly carriage drawn by headless horses, spurred on by a headless coachman. She is said to glide into Blickling Hall where she roams until daybreak.

Earlier in the day, at noon, members of The Diggers costumed re-enactment group lined the driveway to the hall in silence while one of their number, dressed as Anne Boleyn, processed slowly to the hall entrance. As she entered, they followed her inside.

'It was a respectful remembrance of her - she did go through a very difficult time,' said Ms Bosch.

'We had no idea how many Anne Boleyn fans there were out there until our Twitter account went mad with people trying to find out whether anything would be happening to mark the anniversary.'