A GRISLY collection of terrifying creatures descended on the historic centre of Haworth for its latest "Haworth-een" celebration.

Young and old alike dressed up as ghouls witches, ghosts, werewolves, zombies and other fiendish beings for the two-day event last weekend.

They gathered last Saturday and Sunday afternoons to take photos before heading off for the processions, which included competitions for the best outfits.

The village has been staging the parades for at least a decade. They were first begun by Main Street traders Mike Hutchinson and the late Anne Smith.

This month's processions along Main Street were led by Mr Hutchinson and Todmorden-based 'Chicks on Sticks' street entertainer, Rachel Hyde. Rachel donned her ever-popular dragon-rider costume for the Saturday parade and transformed herself into a corpse bride on Sunday.

Mr Hutchinson, who also decorated the front of his Ye Sleeping House bed and breakfast building on a Halloween theme, said the latest festivities had been hugely successful.

"It went absolutely brilliantly, I was very pleased," he said.

"There were definitely more people on the Sunday, but both days went very well and we had plenty of people turning up in costume, both adults and kids.

"Luckily the weather stayed dry, though it was a bit chilly on Sunday and the costume I was wearing wasn't as warm as it could have been!

"Rachel was superb. She really stood out, walking up and down Main Street on her stilts. The Rochester House art gallery sponsored her on the Saturday and we [Ye Sleeping House] sponsored her for the Sunday.

"I was dressed as a wizard one day and as a 'dead man walking' the second day.

"We were collecting for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and for Macmillan Cancer Care, because they both do a fantastic job."

He said the occasion was used as an opportunity to remind youngsters how to stay safe while trick or treating.

"Some kids might think 'we'll only be outside our own house', but then they might wander off further to get more sweets," he said. "They just need to be a bit careful."

Procession participants were also reminded in advance about Haworth's season of public, Christmas events, which begin with the Scroggling the Holly weekend at the end of November.

Mr Hutchinson added: "A lot of the people taking part on both days were locals, which I was pleased about. We did start this as a celebration for local people to get involved with. It's been going for a good 10 to 12 years now."