With the end of October in sight, Dyfed-Powys Police are asking all adults in the force area to carefully consider the way they encourage children for whom they are responsible to celebrate Halloween.

No-one wants to stop young children from having fun in a safe environment, such as youth club discos, but sometimes the consequences of such practices as trick or treat are not fully thought out, said a spokesman.

Elderly residents in particular are often disturbed and worried by children knocking on doors and windows dressed as witches, ghouls and skeletons, demanding sweets in a manner which is sometimes aggressive and frightening.

Police officers throughout the force area regularly go into schools and talk to children about the dangers of strangers. At what other time of year would responsible adults allow young children to roam the streets in the dark approaching the doors of strangers unsupervised?

The practice of trick or treat has the potential to undo much work being done to safeguard our communities and the police urge all those involved in it to carefully consider their plans, she said.