A MOTHER has set up her own party company in Darlington offering imaginative entertainment for children.

Wildchilds was launched with a spectacular Halloween party, with 75 local youngsters exploring a haunted ghost tunnel and being entertained by a lively gorilla.

The initiative is the idea of businesswoman and mother-of-two Hilary Dunne, who searched for years for imaginative parties for her own children Libby, four and Thomas, ten.

She said: "I wanted to develop parties that firstly put the birthday child at the very heart of it and secondly fed the child's imagination with fun and creativity.

"We bring an element of theatre into each party.

"I wanted to re-create the traditional role-play games that filled my childhood.

"In today's world, there's little time for imagination as is it's all done for us."

Wildchilds can provide parties complete with theatrical backdrops, props and costumes to suit all tastes.

Party themes offered by the company include a sparkling fairyland, star for a day, the wild west, winter wonderland, builder's yard and a wizard's school.

The firm also puts on more creative parties, giving children a chance to try their hand at cooking and girlie makeovers or get crafty with tubs of glitter, paper and glue.

Mrs Dunne, who is the marketing manager at Darlington Business Venture, has also created 'parties in a box' for busy parents.

The scheme will deliver party invites, traditional games ideas, presents, decorations and party bags direct to people's doors.

Wildchilds themed parties for large groups have already generated interest from local schools and businesses, with the children's fancy dress costume hire proving popular.

For more details on parties by Wildchilds, call (01325) 365292.