GHOSTS and goblins will be on the prowl at a leafy tourist attraction next week as Halloween draws closer.

Youngsters can trail among the trees at Thorp Perrow Arboretum, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, with resident witches Aggie and Morag for a spooky Halloween experience.

The terrible twosome will be trying to break the curse, cast on them centuries ago, that forces them to remain in the arboretum. They will be joined by various spooks and ghouls on their nomadic pursuits.

Aggie and Morag - actors Mark Leith and Richard Wood - will be starting the tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, on Saturday and Sunday.

Railway museum fun with a spooky theme

STAFF at one of the region's museums are ensuring that youngsters will have plenty of fun over the half-term holidays.

The National Railway Museum at York has a whole series of activities laid on and, in keeping with the season, there's a strong Halloween theme.

Yesterday, Caroline Jariwala was helping would-be artists, young and old, extend their drawing artistic skills, as part of the national Campaign for Drawing.

Until November 3, there will be stories, an old-time fairground complete with rides and a "beastly" trail for youngsters to follow.

On October 27, adult visitors will be able to get in on the act with a pumpkin competition, while on the same day children will be invited to see who can make the most eye-catching Jack O'Lantern.

And throughout the holidays the museum's resident theatre company Platform Four will be staging regular shows bringing the history of the railways to life.

For more information, call the museum's pumpkin hotline on (01904) 686271.