HALLOWEEN will look a little different this year, with trick-or-treating banned, people are thinking of different ways to celebrate the spooky season.

Businesses and communities want to keep spirits high - but not the ghostly type - giving families plenty of options on how to spend Halloween in a safe and different way this year.

1. In Blackburn, re:fresh Blackburn with Darwen are holding a 'Halloween Xplorer Trail' in Witton Country park.

There will spooks, witches and monsters hiding in Witton Park over October half-term and the event is free for families of all ages.

They are asking people to remain Covid-19 safe by practising social distancing and avoid touching the plaques around the trail.

This year due to local tier three restrictions, trick-or-treating can result in a £200 fine due to it being classed as meeting in an outdoor space in which the rule of six would not apply.

2. To combat the trick-or-treat blues, in Darwen people are being urged to take their children on a pumpkin hunt instead, with parents giving children a sweet when they spot a pumpkin.

The local community will be putting pictures of pumpkins in their windows so that children can go out pumpkin spotting whilst in costume.

3. Also in Darwen, you may have noticed a spooky street cleaner out on the roads this week as Multevo are celebrating their 10 year anniversary.

The company has produced a parody Halloween themed video to coincide with the launch of their new Multihog CV Sweeper –‘Count Vacula’.

Driving round the streets of Darwen, many spotted the vampire street cleaner out and about.

Director of marketing and growth, Josh Sweeney said: “2020 marks 10 years being in business for Multevo, so we had hoped to host a celebratory event to include the official UK launch our latest machine – the Multihog CV Sweeper.

"The pandemic, of course, called this idea off so we decided to create a Halloween themed video, hence the name Count Vacula as a bit of fun to hopefully provide some light entertainment as it is not an industry norm.”

4. In Longridge, the post workers are going to be handing out goody bags to children within the normal post deliveries so that kids can enjoy Halloween sweets from the safety of their own home.

5. Vehicle management business XLCR, whose are based in Colne first noticed a problem with super-sized spiders coming up from its cellar some years ago.

Lee Duerden, XLCR’s CEO explained: “We don’t know whether it is a co-incidence that it is almost Hallowe’en, but we are glad to have been of assistance in this difficult year. We have managed to trap the largest example in the Glass Box outside the town’s Market."

The horrific spider in on display on Market Street, nestled on a bed of what looks like pumpkin shaped spider eggs for the public to enjoy in a socially distanced way.

6. Pendle Forest Orienteers are holding a walking event with five courses around Haslingden, Stacksteads, Rawtenstall, Crawshawbooth and Stubbins.

Each area will have a Halloween street orienteering map where you will find a code that will be attached on lamp post or telegraph pole and you need to write down down the Halloween related word.

7. Thornton Hall in Skipton are holding lots of events for people of all ages including pumpkin picking and drive through scare-fest's.

The 'Spooky Fields' drive through event has tickets available during the day for families of all ages whilst the later 'Fear Fields' is only for people over the age of 12 looking for a fright.

8. In Whalley, a Crafty Vintage pop-up market will be held over the weekend, with an array of local crafters, artists and makers.

The area behind the Swan Hotel car park will also feature a vintage horse box coffee bar along with a halloumi street food shack.

Laura Johnson, founder of Crafty Vintage said: “For a family run events company like ours it is fantastic to be open and have a good selection of handmade crafts, art and vintage wares.

"The support from our local community has been overwhelming’’.

If you want to stay at home this year, Morrisons is helping customers celebrate with the launch of two new food boxes for Halloween and bonfire night.

9. The Morrisons Spooky Halloween Box costs £23 and Morrisons Ultimate Bonfire Night Box costs £17, both including delivery.

The supermarket hopes it will keep all the family entertained with trick or treating not going ahead – the Halloween box even contains a Slime Cupcake Kit.

The Bonfire Night Box contains all the November 5 classics from hot chocolate, marshmallows and cinder toffee to bangers and pork pies.

10. As well as all of these, some pubs which have remained open across East Lancashire are hosting quizzes with mini competitions for the best costume of the night.