Mystery of rituals in park (From This Is Local London)

Mystery of rituals in park

4:46pm Monday 8th July 2002

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Nocturnal religious ceremonies at a Beckenham park have left residents mystified

Rituals involving fire, candles, stone circles and symbols hung in trees, have occurred in Beckenham Place Park.

The incidents came to light at a meeting of Copers Cope Area Residents' Association when a member told how his rare dog, a Basenji, went missing last month while on a walk in the park.

Eric Inman, from the residents' association, said: "A group of people have been holding religious ceremonies in the park and hanging things in the trees. The strange thing is, similar ceremonies happened in the park in the 1970s."

Malvin Mitchell, chairman of the Beckenham Place Park Working Party, said: "The man is convinced his dog's disappearance is connected to these ceremonies.

"They started some time ago with some very elaborate stone circles in the woods. They're like mini Stonehenges.

"Candles are burnt and wax is left to run down the trees. There have also been some shiny objects seen in trees and reports in the park of people wearing balaclavas."

Lewisham Council, which manages the park, is investigating the claims.

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