Spooky spectacular on peninsula school path

Plucky youngsters in Shotley have been making their way past ghosts, ghouls, skeletons and pumpkin-headed scarecrows to get to class this week.

Parents from the Friends of Shotley School (FOSS) blazed the trail from the main road up to the primary school buildings as a way of making up for the children missing out on their traditional Halloween disco, which usually takes place on the Friday before the Autumn half-term.

Kirsty Button, FOSS chair, explained how the members unearthed a variety of ghoulish goodies to pave the way for a fun experience.

Kirsty said: "Due to the coronavirus we are not able to throw a Halloween part for the children and as they can't go trick or treating, we wondered what we would do to brighten up the children's Halloween.

"FOSS as a team decided to donate all their Halloween decorations they had at home. We had people donate hay, trousers and pumpkins for the scarecrows.

"We were able to decorate the path for the children to look at on their way in and out of school."

And, as no Halloween would be complete without some treats, FOSS members will be selling sweet cones to help raise funds for the school starting today.

"We will be here on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday selling the cones for 50p so the children can taken them home as a little treat," said Kirsty.

Shotley Primary School headteacher Richard Dedicoat is getting into the spirit of things by allowing all the children to wear Halloween fancy dress on Friday.

"Again, it is just something to brighten up the children's week in this sad and worrying time," said Kirsty. "Kids love Halloween, and trick or treating, so all this is something good for them instead.

"Th childreny absolutely loved the trail when they came out of school and saw it for the first time. It was a lovely surprise for them."

For more pictures of the spooky school trail, scroll right on the top image of this story.