HALLOWE’EN was spectacularly spooky in Hook and Odiham this year as both villages got into the spirit for some frightening festivities.

In Hook, nearly 200 witches, ghosts and ghouls descended on Elizabeth Hall located on the aptly named Raven Road last Friday.

The freaky free half-term fun saw volunteers host a special afternoon of festivities thanks to Hook Parish Council’s Big Lottery Awards for All grant and the Station Road Tesco store which provided the pumpkins. 

Children and their parents revelled in the Hallowe’en spirit, led by a bewitching entertainer plus creepy competitions dedicated to all things spooky and eerie. 

Competitions included fancy dress, a spooks’ hunt, colouring and craft skills, plus haunted themed games, quizzes and treats.

Elizabeth Hall revellers were able to get their fangs into Hallowe’en themed treats throughout the afternoon.

At 3.30pm the main event of the afternoon came to a conclusion, with the fancy dress competition decided by judges.

Youngsters Holly Wilson and James Reid won the prizes for best dressed girl and boy respectively, with both winning an Interplay toy set.

Hook parish councillor and village hall volunteer Sue Hinton said: “Parents are always pressurised to go trick and treating so we thought that we could take the pressure off them, put on the fun in the Elizabeth Hall, and it would also remind people what great halls we have in Hook.

“The feedback is that everyone had a super time and it was lovely to see parents taking part in the craft activities with their children.”

A short broomstick ride away in Odiham, a Hallowe’en fireworks Spooktacular returned with a bang on Saturday.

The community turned out in even bigger numbers than last year to watch a stunning 20-minute display light up the night sky over the village.

The event, a partnership between the parish council and the Hook and Odiham Lions, also saw the lighting of a gigantic bonfire.

The evening started with a children’s hallowe’en fancy dress competition, with plenty of parents also participating, but unfortunately their efforts were to no avail.

In the competition judged by parish council chairman chairman Jon Hale and Lions’ president Judith Goodchild, the winning the fancy dress prizes were awarded to Kitty Keely and Sebastian and Ciaran Miles.

After the event Mr Hale said: “Having brought a fireworks night back to Odiham after many years without one, OPC were delighted that the Hook and Odiham Lions were willing the partner with us again this year.

“The event simply couldn’t happen without the skill and and effort of their team of brilliant volunteers. “We are also incredibly grateful for the use of the land that Ford Farm, once again lent us to host the event.  

“As well as the support of local businesses who helped sponsor the evening, it was great to see the community turn out in such strength to enjoy and support the event, especially all those who made the effort to join in the fancy dress fun.” 

Terry Cheesman of the Hook and Odiham Lions added: “In addition to a wonderful firework display and a well attended fancy dress competition, expertly organised by our own Wicked Witch of Warnborough, there was, I think, the biggest bonfire Odiham has seen in living memory, constructed and fired right on cue by local farmer Tom Janaway who allowed the use of his land.  

“Many more people attended this year than last and it seems that creating a hallowe’en/firework event is a winning formula for the good folk of Odiham, whom I hope, will now look forward to Spooktacular 2017!”