Couple spend £400 making Ghostbusters car for Halloween

With Halloween quickly approaching, people across the north-west of England have certainly been getting into the spooky spirit.

For some, it means much more than just putting out a pumpkin and buying a tonne of sweets to hand out to the local kids out trick or treating.

Take the Towler family from St Helens, for example.

They have been busy 3D printing, welding and even buying a £400 car ahead of fright night.

Louise and her husband Vinny have transformed their Haydock home into a Ghostbusters-themed spectacle - complete with a 10ft Marshmallow Man, a floating Slimer ghost and even an Ectomobile.

"We bought an actual hearse at first but it wasn't going to be ready in time," said the 36-year-old mum-of-four.

"So we bought the car for £400 instead - we have spent a month vinyl wrapping it and adding all the bits. Our kids think we are crazy."

Louise said she and her family had been putting on Halloween displays for six years.

Originally, the tradition began for fun - but when visitors began asking if they could leave a donation, Louise began collecting for local foodbanks and children's charities - including Sedulo, a Christmas toy appeal.

"I've just always been a Halloween person and my builds have gone bigger and bigger every year," she explained.

She said word had travelled so much locally about her Halloween house that the family have had to construct a tent in front of their house this year so that the surprise theme was not revealed too soon.

"From as early as summer, people ask what we are gonna do next year and if it will top the previous year's displays, because they're all really very interactive," she said.

In years gone by, the family have done a Beetlejuice themed display, a Wednesday themed one from the Addams Family, and a Stranger Things display.

Welder Vinny has been on hand to make many of the interactive features - including a fake electric chair, and this year's light-up laser guns.

Louise said this year had been more challenging to set up the display after she had to have a hysterectomy in May.

Despite her health concerns - she said she knew she had to put on a fine display.

"We just couldn't let the community down," she added. "Even the children that aren't benefit from getting Christmas presents or donations.

"Because they get excited to come in our garden every year."

The Towler family are not the only ones who are taking their love of all things spooky to the extreme this Halloween.

Emma Woodall, from Hindley Green in Wigan, has turned her enthusiasm for 31 October into an annual charity event - complete with 9ft animatronics, a food and drink stand, and a raffle.

"I love horror and Halloween," Emma explained.

"My Halloween house of horrors has raised more than £4,000 for charity over the years."

This year marks the sixth year that Emma has put on a Halloween fundraiser - collecting for the Wigan-based charity Blessing in Disguise, which provides support and equipment for children with disabilities and their families.

"I'd always had a few Halloween decorations from when I'd had parties previously," Emma said.

"And I love decorating.

"So I thought 'Hang on, I could actually put this to good use'."

Since her first display, Emma's collection has grown so large that she can no longer keep it all at home.

"I get new decorations every year but it's not just decorations," she explained.

"I've got animatronics, lighting, special effects, projectors.

"I keep some of it in the loft, but I couldn't fit everything in there.

"So some of it had to go to a storage lot."

Emma added: "Knowing I've been able to raise that money makes me feel helpful."

In Blackpool, meanwhile, the Paynes are also putting on a huge display and have bought 500 bags of sweets ready for trick or treaters in need of a sugar rush.

Katie, 43, Andy, 40, and seven-year-old Scarlett decorated their house for Halloween for the first time last year.

They did so to raise money for nearby Brian's House Children's Hospice.

They are no strangers to festive displays, though, and their home has attracted crowds ever since they moved in 11 years ago.

"We prefer Christmas," Andy admitted. "But I love decorating - I like putting a smile on kids' faces."

Andy said this year's display has not yet been completed - with custom-made gravestones yet to arrive.

"I used to hate Halloween," Katie confessed.

"I like it now so long as there are no clowns, because I hate clowns."

Clearly expecting lots of visitors, she said: "We have 500 bags of sweets ready – I hope it's enough!"

The Paynes said their only concern ahead of the big night was battling with the good old Blackpool weather.

"The wind keeps blowing things down," Andy complained.

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