"THIS may be a bit late for this year's Halloween but please could this be heeded for next year.

"I have children who are now grown up and have children of their own and I always embraced the spirit of Halloween.

"I'd decorate the front of my house, get lots of sweets in for the trick or treaters and would record my TV programmes as I'd be up and down like a Weston donkey answering the door to the children and giving out treats, but not anymore.

"Sadly I'm not decking up this year and I'm not opening my door this Halloween.

"I have been completely shocked at the Halloween goods on the shelves in the shops this year including daggers, knives and hatchets. I'm not sure what these have to do with Halloween.

"They may only be plastic or rubber but please, with so much violence in the world these days I ask the shops to stop selling these disgusting items and parents to stop their children from buying them.

"These are not toys or fun gadgets, they are representative of the dangerous world we live in. Please can we stick to apple bobbling and pumpkin carving in future?"

Written by Portishead resident, Sue.