Plea to avoid going 'door to door' this Halloween
Police and local authorities in Wiltshire and Hampshire have issued advice over the celebration.
We're being urged to mark Halloween a little differently this year and plan low risk activiities within our household rather than heading out.
Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police are concerned that trick or treating where treats are handed out and children go door to door could spread Covid-19
That's echoed by Hampshire County Council
"The practice of door knocking is not recommended because of difficulties in adhering to social distancing guidelines, risks associated with potential contact, mixing of multiple households and spread of the virus through contact with shared surfaces, including shared buckets of treats."
There's a reminder too that substituting a facemask with a Halloween mask will NOT keep you safe.
Anyone holding a gathering to show off costume will need to stick to the rule of six with the advice it's safer to hold any such activity outdoors.
Ghosts, witches and skeletons will also need to remember hands, face and space.
ALTERNATIVE HALLOWEEN
Wiltshire Council is urging households to get creative with Halloween this year.
Organise a Halloween trail - decorate your house and encourage neighbours to decorate theirs, creating a spooky trail for families to follow.
Decorate a Halloween poster - download, decorate and display one of Wiltshire Council's Halloween posters or complete the Halloween word search.
Scavenger hunt - give your children a list of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors admiring Halloween decorations at a distance.
Indoor trick or treating - buy your child's favourite sweets and let them trick-or-treat door to door within your house or let them walk through the neighbourhood so they can show off their costume, then come home to a special treat or toy.
Watch a scary movie with the family - make a night of it by preparing some popcorn and sweets and setting a spooky scene.
Host a virtual dance party where your friends can learn the "Monster Mash" choreography or do the "Time Warp" all together. Or play some Halloween themed games and while listening to music.
Mix a spooky cocktail - No Halloween is complete without a custom witch's brew cocktail or mocktail.
WILTSHIRE ACTIVITIES
Salisbury BID is running a pumpkin trail across the city which is proving popular with families.
Libraries are running a Facebook Halloween quiz to test your knowledge of all thing spooky. The quiz will be published at 7pm on Thursday 29 October, with answers published 24 hours later.
Amesbury Library has created a video about Halloween crafts.
Old Sarum has a Halloween trail and spooky stories on offer from Saturday 24 October - Sunday 1 November, 10am - 5pm