The Deputy Mayor of Erewash has embraced the Halloween spirit to stand outside Ilkeston Town Hall dishing out sweets to thrilled youngsters.
Costumed borough councillor Kate Fennelly joined in what has now become a trick-or-treat extravaganza locally.
In the annual event, children don fancy dress to follow a Halloween trail around the town as almost every shop and business offers free goodies – with many staff also clad in spooky outfits.
Kate said: “Councillors were determined the town hall should be a part of it so had a whip-round to buy sweets. The Ilkeston Trick-or-treat Trail has become a massive thing in Erewash – and is a fantastic showcase for the kind of community spirit we love to see.”
The spectacle sees the town’s children – many of them toddlers – snake their way through the town in their thousands. It was first held in 2019 after retired police constable Joe Cahill, 67, saw how the pumpkin-crazy USA staged similar events.
His brother Adrian lives in Florida. Joe said: “It is now a much bigger event here than it is there. My brother says Ilkeston has taken the idea and smashed it!”
Trentbarton put a Halloween-themed bus on the Market Place – and a local funeral parlour was even advertising a Ghostbusters hearse.
Deputy Leader of Erewash Borough Council Becca Everett, who is also Lead Member for Community Engagement, said: “The Halloween trail is a fantastic family event. And all credit to Joe – who has become a great champion for shops and businesses in the town.”
The Ilkeston-born grandad won an MBE for his youth work in the past. He now campaigns to keep the town centre thriving and runs an organisation called Ilkeston’s Independent Shops.
Joe said: “Our group has almost 5,000 members and encourages people to shop locally so Ilkeston does NOT end up being a ghost town!”