WINNERS of the Matalan Discount Club Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night colouring competition in 1994 were due to be treated like royalty.

For the lucky winners, Paul and Toni Ann Welsh, had won tickets to see The Lion King and devour a family meal at Burger King.

Nine-year-old Paul and his sister, Toni Ann, eight, lived in Barrow.

The runners--up in the colouring competition were Amy Furness, six, Helen Ford, 12, and Zona Smith, nine.

The runners-up won Crayola studio case sets.

Walt Disney’s animated feature The Lion King was being shown at the Astra, on Abbey Road in Barrow.

‘If you were out on the streets of Ormsgill last night, chances were you got a bit of a fright.

‘But no, the spirits hadn’t risen early to start their haunting - it was the children of the area on their way to a seriously scary party.’

So began a report and picture spread by The Mail on Monday, October 31, 1994, under the headlines ‘Ormsgill’s Hallowe’en party brings out the little boys and ghouls!’ and ‘Harum Scarum’.

It went on: “Courtesy of the Ormsgill Residents Association, the little terrors had a night that was out of this world.’

Mummies, a good few Draculas, zombies and witches vied for prizes for the best-dressed horrors.

And then they whirled, spell-bound by the music, to try to scoop a £5 token for the best dancer.

With prizes for the best lantern and traditional Hallowe'en grub - hotdogs, toffee apples, beefburgers and sweets - the party at the Ormsgill Community Centre looked like becoming a firm fixture in the calendar.

On October 31, 1992, The Mail wrote that it was the night when gremlins growled and harpies howled, adding that youngsters had got into some early practice at the Barrow Park Leisure Centre's half-term play scheme, dressing up in some inventive and scary Hallowe'en costumes.