Wardens patrol Halloween streets

Thousands of posters have been printed in the town

Neighbourhood wardens in a Nottinghamshire town are working to ensure Halloween is not blighted by anti-social behaviour.

Patrols in Mansfield want to make sure youngsters do not hurl eggs or flour at properties, cars or people.

Thousands of posters have been printed for householders to display saying they do not welcome trick or treat visits.

Senior neighbourhood warden Richard Townsley said there had been problems in the past.

He said: "We've had eggs and flour thrown at cars, thrown at houses, criminal damage, nuisance, that kind of thing, and there's no need for it.

"Halloween should be fun, it should be happy, it shouldn't be about about upsetting people, it shouldn't be about breaking things, it shouldn't be about damaging things, it shouldn't be about hurting people."

Street patrols

The wardens are stepping up their patrols on Halloween night, but will also be wearing spooky costumes over their uniforms.

Kath Boswell, one of the residents who will be putting the poster up, said: "My only fear is - who's behind that mask when you open the door? And that's what goes around a lot of the OAPs and all the other people living round here.

"And of course we don't want to keep answering the door every two minutes to people."

Richard Townsley added: "What we're saying to children is - respect the wishes of those people who put the poster up, don't go knocking on their door because they have said they don't want that. But it is sad that people feel that way."