[garinda]

October is drawing to an end, and Halloween is nearly here. Soon as a prelude to kids ringing our door bells lisping a few lines of 'Away in a Manger', we will be disturbed by 'trick or treaters'.

Trick or treat, that American import that is now part of our British calender. Is it a bit of harmless fun, or extortion with menace?

Do you welcome the little darlings knocking on your door on these dark winter's nights, and reward them with treats, or the more commonly demanded money? Would you let your children do it? Is it safe for young children to wander the streets knocking on strangers doors?

It's certainly something I didn't do thirty years ago as a child. We made a lantern out of a turnip, and if we were lucky, were taken to wander on top of Pendle Hill looking for witches.