Half of Brits believe in life after death

A study carried out for director Clint Eastwood's American fantasy film Hereafter, which stars Matt Damon and Cecile de France, has revealed how a huge percentage of British people believe in supernatural phenomena.

More than half (53 per cent) believe in psychic powers and are open to the idea of life after death, while one in five claim they have seen a ghost or felt a spirit presence, reports the Daily Mail.

Furthermore, two in five people believe in 'guardian angels', according to the study, which also revealed that some adults would love to talk to Princess Diana, Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe and Freddie Mercury.

"We are beginning to see more people who are reporting near death experiences and encounters with deceased relatives," Dr Penny Sartori, an expert on near-death experiences and author of the study, is quoted by the newspaper as saying.

"With media and films bringing this subject to a wide audience, people may feel more comfortable in discussing their near death experience whereas previously they would have been afraid of being ridiculed."

Hereafter explores the tale of three people affected by death in different ways.