If there's something strange happening in your neighbourhood, who are you going to call? Well, Ghostbusters according to Essex County Council.

In one of most bizarre freedom of information requests received by County Hall, the administration were asked how many UFO sightings and paranormal activities they had investigated in the last decade.

They were also asked if a business plan was in place in case of a zombie invasion or viral pandemic.

The identity of who submitted the request is unknown, but it's sure they wouldn't have expected a response which cited sci-fi shows Ghostbusters, The X Files and Shaun of the Dead.

The comedic response from County Hall said services had "all been contracted out to external service providers."

For UFO sightings the response said to "contact Fox Mulder or Dana Scully who have been seconded from the FBI to Essex County Council X-Files project."

Continuing, it read that for any information concerning paranormal activity to contact "555-2368 Ghostbusters and ask to speak with Dr Venkman, Dr Stants or Dr Spengler", played in the film by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.

Simon Pegg's Brit-classic Shaun of the Dead was referenced concerning a Zombie invasion, with detail requests to be forwarded to "Shaun c/o The Winchester Tavern, 39 Monson Road, New Cross, South London".

Finally, the County Hall comic said all viral pandemics queries should be sent to "Major Henry West, Government Disease Control Centre, Cambridge", who "can only be contacted 28 days later from the receipt of this response", as per the Danny Boyle film 28 Days Later.

County Hall was unable to comment on the exact request, but said it was a legal requirement to respond to all FOI requests.

The council said that FOI requests increased by 60 percent from 2011-2013 to 1,853, which cost the body £250,000 in staff wages.

In the first quarter of this year, County Hall received about 750 FOI requests.