Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties get spooky (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties get spooky

Pictures: Siobhan BoyleWITCHES and devils filled Freshbrook Community Centre as a group of toddlers celebrated Halloween.

The Playmates mother and toddler group got in the spooky spirit early as they enjoyed a Halloween fair on Saturday.

They hope to have raised up to £200 for the mother and baby unit at the Great Western Hospital and to help organise a Christmas party.

"It was a fantastic day," said Caroline Bell, who runs the group.

"We had a fancy dress competition with little witches, devils, ghosts, skeletons and even a little pumpkin. They all looked beautiful and lots of the costumes were home-made which makes it even better.

"We had lots of support from the mums and from local businesses and lots of people came along.

"The whole response was fantastic.

"It is such a wonderful cause because it is for the kids. We wanted to do something close to our hearts.

"It was a really great afternoon."

As well as the fancy dress, there was plenty to keep everyone amused with a tombola, raffle and a selection of stalls. The donation to the Great Western Hospital will go towards the mother and baby unit fund to develop a courtyard area.

The group will use a small amount of the money to put on a Christmas party for the children.

And youngsters at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, in Old Town, started their Halloween fun during half term.

Five to 11-year-olds visited the museum for Halloween craft activities on Thursday and Friday, making spiders and other spooky decorations ready for today.