AS night descended on October 31, 1995, the spooks and shades came out to walk the streets of Barrow, Ulverston and Millom in their elaborate and scary Hallowe’en fancy dress costumes.

Gangs of witches, vampires and skeletons could be observed knocking at neighbourhood doors.

Youngsters clutching empty bags soon saw them filled with sweets and pennies.

One Barrow group of friends began their annual Hallowe’en jaunt at 5.30pm with eight children and their various grown-up companions covering more than a dozen streets before taking a well-earned break at McDonald’s.

Scary Alexander Maddick, aged three, was adorned with a skeleton suit, which had been painstakingly prepared by mum, Jill.

His friends Leigh and Josh Haney helped him ‘frighten’ householders into parting with their group cache of sweets, oranges, toffee apples and a grand monetary total of £16.40.

At 8.30pm the group was heading home.

“We go out every year,” said one mother. “We had a garage party last year - this is something different for them this year.”

“We’re going home now, it’s time for the adults’ party.”

At Roosegate Community Centre in Barrow Sharon Oakes and Pauline Martine were busy in the kitchen, preparing toffee apples.

In the hall, Gary, aged seven, and Carla, six, ducked apples during a break from disco dancing with the other little revellers, who included two-year-old James McLeish.

Bobbing for apples on strings was the order of the day at Barrow Workingmen’s Club, where families also gathered to join in the fun.

Meanwhile, staff at Forum 28 in Barrow gathered with family and friends for a fancy dress party of their own.

In an old annexe behind Ulverston library, poet and writer Maggie Norton told spooky tales to children having Hallowe’en fun.

Children there also had fun dressing up and took part in a pumpkin lantern competition.