IT is a question we have all considered - is there life after death?

One man who feels secure in his belief in the afterlife is Keith Charles, otherwise known as the Psychic Detective.

The former police officer is visiting Clacton's Prince's Theatre later this month to give readings to sceptics and believers alike.

He told the Gazette that he has known about his unusual gift all his life.

"When I was about six or seven, I would see ghosts of children all the time," said the 57-year-old, who lives in London.

"It never frightened me, because I thought it happened to everybody."

And everything finally fell into place several years later, when Keith met a medium.

"I saw a woman standing next to her," he explained.

"The medium told me to go away and draw her - but every time I tried, I was compelled to rub out the left hand side of her face.

"I later found out that the woman, who was the medium's mother, had suffered from Bell's Palsy down that side of her face.

"She never showed it to anyone."

Over the years, Keith's link to the other side has remained a huge part of his life.

It assisted him on many cases during his 32-year career in the Metropolitan Police - while, after he retired, his services were requested by forces in Sweden, Australia and America.

"I helped on a gruesome murder case in Philadelphia, where I was told the name of the murderer," he said.

"I ask the officers not to tell me any information about the case, so that I can pick things up for myself."

Meanwhile, during his stage shows, Keith says he comes armed without a script, and has to rely on the spirits to communicate with members of the audience.

He says that even he has been surprised at the success of some of his results.

"There was a spirit called Cyril, who was holding the biggest key I'd ever seen," he said.

"A lady in the audience told me that he was her friend.

"Three months before he had died, he told her that if there was a heaven, he would come back and show her the key of life."

Keith added that everyone is welcome to his shows, no matter their level of scepticism.

"All I ask is for people to come along with an open mind," he said.

You can test Keith's skills for yourself at the Prince's Theatre at Clacton Town Hall on Wednesday, September 20 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £12 with concessions at £8.

For more information on Keith, visit keithcharlesmedium.com