At the busy junction of Tavistock Street, Union Street, and Clapham Road in Bedford, a gruesome ghostly figure has been spotted numerous times over the years. This is the location where Black Tom, a notorious nineteenth-century highwayman, was executed and buried with a stake driven through his heart to prevent his return. However, it seems this ritual had little effect, as both Black Tom and another unknown ghost have been seen countless times, particularly around Christmas. One witness in the 1960s reported seeing a gruesome figure with a broken neck staggering down the road in broad daylight, vanishing into thin air seconds later.

Imagine a time when highwaymen roamed the English countryside, and one of these figures met a grisly end at the hands of the law. Black Tom's story begins in the nineteenth century, when he was caught, executed, and then given a stake through the heart to prevent his spirit from rising. Yet, it appears his spirit was not so easily contained. In the 1990s, a witness thought they saw a drunk man in fancy dress until he suddenly disappeared. These sightings, along with others, have cemented Black Tom's place in local folklore. The fact that these apparitions have been seen by multiple witnesses over several decades adds credibility to the claims of paranormal activity in this area.