The teens – who recorded footage of the freaky being on their mobile phone – said they are now “too terrified” to go out at night.

Experts who examined the latest footage, taken in the town of Clodomira, province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, last week, say it is ‘credible’.

But sceptics say the sidestepping ‘gnome’ could be a speedy child or even a small animal.

Last week’s footage was taken by Juan Carlos Roldan, his brother Javier and five friends, who were larking around by the water fountain in Clodomira.

Juan, who filmed the creature, referred to it as “something that looked like a dwarf”.

He said: “It was walking sideways and was wearing dark clothes. But it was impossible to see its face because its face was covered in shadows.”

One of the lads, who were aged 15-22, yesterday told Argentinean reporters: “We were messing about - singing and dancing - when we heard a loud rustling noise from behind us.

“This tiny thing started running down Avenue San Martin at us. It had a pointy head and dark clothes.

“It was a person of incredibly low stature. We filmed it then got scared and ran off.

“This little thing was barking like a dog - but running sideways on two legs. It headed off towards the football stadium.”

Juan added: “We stopped for a while around a block away from where we saw it. Then we returned and picked up the pieces of clothing that we had left behind and our bikes too but we didn’t see anything else.”

Photographic expert Aldegonda Alvarz, of Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero, yesterday said: “This video footage seems credible. We could be looking at another ‘petido orejudo’ - small being.”

The Sun’s video of a ‘creepy gnome’ recorded in Argentina last March caused millions to be stunned around the world.

It sparked hundreds coming forward to report similar sightings while a town’s mayor and police chief admitted they had known about ‘the creepy gnome’s’ existence for 20 years.

Teenager Jose Alvarez first caught the creature on film while larking about in his hometown of General Guemes, in the province of Salta, Argentina.

He said: “This is no joke. We are still afraid to go out - just like everyone else in the neighbourhood now.

“One of my friends was so scared after seeing that thing that we had to take him to the hospital.” Original Link Click here for the video

Each group has done the research and scientifically experimented with different methods and technology to help their study push on to the next level. Investigating techniques can range from different levels as there can be many natural and manmade causes that can be easily ruled away. Not only are we seeking out the paranormal, we are having to combine a knowledge of different professions into one because of the manmade circumstances that are continually around us each day of our lives.

There are many different areas we examine as we are trying to rule out all manmade or natural occurrences. Below you will find some of the areas we research before considering genuine paranormal activity.

Electrical issues can cause a high EMF (Electromagnetic Field). Some of the side effects can be very harmful to those that are around this and causes for concern about the long-term effects of the exposure to these high levels. You can get the feeling of being watched, headaches, seeing unexplained phenomena, feel nausea and become dizzy if you are living in an area that is highly concentrated. Another concern of electrical issues could arise in faulty or old wiring. Not only could this cause your lights to flicker or cause your appliances to whack out, it could be very dangerous and cause a fire.

We should also bring in the plumbing facts of this into our discussion. For those that hear unexplained noises in your walls or under your floors, you may want to take a look and see if there could possibly be any loose pipes. Flushing of water through these pipes can sound like rapping or banging noises, some could also give the effect of footsteps depending on what location you are in your home. Not to mention if there is a steady running of water, it may result in a leak which could weaken your floors and cause rotten wood and mildew which we will discuss in another paragraph.

Mold and mildew are just as toxic; these can also cause health issues and should be removed. They only need a damp and moist environment and an organic material to establish themselves to. Some of the side effects for sensitive people may experience headaches, runny noses, skin rashes, nausea, sinus problems, memory loss and coughs. They may feel listless for long periods of time. In short, they feel as though they have a perpetual case of the flu. All in all a lot of these side effects are sometime confused with paranormal occurrences.

Chemicals, including unused paint, being stored inside your home should be immediately looked into and removed from any living quarters. This is hazardous to the entire family. Some common signs and symptoms of over-exposure to paint fumes is dizziness, headaches, frequent runny nose or eyes. In severe cases, you may experience difficulty breathing, tremors or shaky hands, irritability, memory loss, or slurred speech. If you experience any of these symptoms after exposure to paint fumes, consult your physician immediately.

The history of a location could bring a wealth of knowledge not only you but for any investigative team that you may consider having come in. Also to note, finding out what the landscape is of your area could hold clues to the circumstances behind it. You can never have too much history of your home and location.

Another thing to consider is looking for vermin in your home. Not only can they get into your attic, they could also get inside your walls. The noises can range from scratching, unexplained noises, and things dropping to footsteps and can totally mislead someone into thinking that it is of paranormal nature.  They could also do more harm than most realize by chewing electrical wiring and leaving their droppings behind which can contaminate the entire area with their odor.

So as Dee Bunker puts it, could the repeated knockings be that the central heating pipes are acting up? Would those creaking footsteps be the old floorboards contracting as the temperature drops? What about those spooky cold spots? Maybe there are drafts or holes near walls or windows. How about those ghostly lights on the ceilings, those could possibly be the reflections from the road traffic passing by. Could it be a scratching poltergeist or just maybe there are birds on the roof, or mice in the walls or ceilings. A damp patch on the wall could cast a shadowy figure; wispy fog could depict a pale phantom on the side of the road.

We as paranormal researchers have to look for rational explanations; once we have ruled out all natural causes can only be the time where we say that paranormal activity exists. It’s a tough road to follow but the dedication and desire to find the truth keeps us going.