DO you want to celebrate Halloween this year by spreading some light and love rather than carving a pumpkin and celebrating ghosts and ghouls?

October 31 means Halloween for many people.

Children dress up as ghosts or monsters and houses are decorated with spooky themed decorations as Britain settles into winter.

But there is an alternative. Locally Encourage All to Flourish (LEAF), a charity founded by Ledbury churches, is holding its annual Alternative Halloween Party (Light Party) on Thursday, October 31 from 3.00pm to 5.15pm at St Michael and All Angels Parish Church.

This popular family fun event will include a range of activities, including lantern making, leaf print pictures, creating friendship bracelets, biscuit decorating, a ‘Light and Dark’ Tent, glow stick skittles, a treasure hunt and more.

There will be tea and cakes for children, with hot drinks and cakes for adults. The event is free of charge for families with children up to the age of 12 years.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Guests are encouraged to wear warm clothing, but asked not to attend in Halloween costumes.

The event’s theme is all around light and brightness.

The church will be decorated with fairy lights and candles to add to the atmosphere.

For more information, please contact Mary Anne Keyes at maryannekeyes@leafledbury.com or Jill Jupp jill_jupp@hotmail.co.uk. The website leafledbury.com provides more information about LEAF’s work.