Be safe and have fun this Hallowe’en!

The police, Pendle Council and Lancashire Fire and Rescue will be working with residents and partner agencies to ensure that the annual occasion can be enjoyed by all.

Sgt. Natasha Shaw, Pendle's Multi-Agency Problem Solving (MAPS) Co-coordinator, said: "We want everyone to have an enjoyable Hallowe'en and understand that going trick or treating is an exciting tradition for youngsters.

"However, Hallowe'en can also be a distressing time of year for some vulnerable members of the community and we would ask trick or treaters to respect the wishes of those who choose not to mark the occasion."

Officers from both the police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue will be carrying out reassurance visits for vulnerable residents in the lead up to Hallowe'en.

Steve Snape, Service Manager at Nelson Fire Station, said: "We want to reassure residents, particularly older members of the community, that their safety and well-being is of paramount importance to us.

"We would also like to remind everyone about some important fire safety messages.

"Every year at Hallowe'en, many adults and children are injured in accidents where lighted candles or fireworks have ignited flammable costumes and hair. 

"A good alternative to candles are tea lights, which you can buy from garden centres, and have a small battery fitted. These are just as effective at creating an atmosphere, but much safer than a candle."

Targeted work will also be carried out across the borough to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The police will be increasing anti-social behaviour patrols and will be working with Pendle Council's Licensing Officers to conduct test purchasing operations to prevent alcohol being sold to minors.

Mick Armfield, Licensing Officer at Pendle Council, said: "These operations will be held at both off-licenses and pubs across the borough, on and around Hallowe'en.

"Alcohol can often fuel occurrences of anti-social behaviour, especially if it is being sold to people who are too young to be drinking."

Sgt. Shaw added: "Our anti-social behaviour patrols will help make sure that trick or treaters are not knocking on doors where there is a sign asking you not to disturb. We encourage them to only go to houses where they, or their friends, know who lives there.

"This is because we not only want youngsters to respect people who do not want to take part in Hallowe'en, but we want to make sure that they are aware of the dangers trick or treating can pose to them.

"Don't go into the house of a person you don't know, and don't talk to strangers on the street."

Pendle Community Safety Partnership encourages people wanting to celebrate Hallowe'en in Pendle this October, to take part in the many organised activities.

Councillor David Whipp, Chairman of the Partnership, said: "We are very lucky in Pendle that we live in one of the best places to celebrate Hallowe'en, thanks to the history of the Pendle witches.

"There are loads of spooky events taking place for all the family, which can be a lot better than knocking on doors in the cold."

There are spooky film screenings at Nelson's ACE Centre, as well as a pumpkin carving workshop.

Historian John Doughty will be giving a talk on the folklore and traditions of the North West at the Pendle Heritage Centre.

You can find out more about the real Pendle witches on one of two trails, one by coach and the other on foot. They're extremely popular at this time of year.

And there's a whole weekend of family fun up at Thornton Hall Farm Country Park which will be going all spooky for the Hallowe'en weekend.

Full details of these events - and more! - are in the Pendle Spooktacular leaflet, which is free to download.