Spooky lights, 700 bags of sweets, and £500 worth of home-made decorations - one family in Tilehurst has turned their front garden into a huge Halloween scene to raise money for a good cause. 

The Gill family in Clanfield Crescent has spent several weeks and hundreds of pounds making the frighteningly good displays in order to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

The homemade decorations include cut-outs of the characters from Disney film Hocus Pocus, a haunted cemetery, and a spiderweb trail to the family's front door. 

Mum Rebecca said donations are being directed to the cancer charity as her aunty-in-law, Valerie Winslade from Eastbourne, was supported by a nursing team before Valerie's death from a brain tumour in August

Rebecca said: "The Macmillan team were brilliant. They put all our concerns and worries about her care to rest. It was really important to us."

The family had previously put on a small Halloween display at their house in Thatcham, before a larger display in Tilehurst last year - which attracted a huge number of trick-or-treaters. 

Rebecca said: "When we were in Thatcham we did a mini-display. Then it just sort of grew. 

"Last year we gave out 500 packets of sweets. We didn't shut the front door for more than three hours. It was a constant stream of kids queuing up. 

"It's all done for the kids. This year it's not too scary, not a lot of blood and gore, as we're on a school route. We have had absolutely tonnes of great feedback. 

"This year we have 700 packets of sweets - we're expecting to be very busy."

Spooky lights, £500 worth of home-made decorations, and 700 bags of sweets - one family in Tilehurst has turned their front garden into a huge Halloween scene to raise money for a good cause. Spooky lights, £500 worth of home-made decorations, and 700 bags of sweets - one family in Tilehurst has turned their front garden into a huge Halloween scene to raise money for a good cause.  (Image: NQ)

So far the family has raised more than £380 for the Macmillan through a JustGiving page, which can be found here.

And the enthusiastic response from the community means locals can expect a similar spooky site next year. 

Mum-of-two Rebecca said: "We think we will be back next year, maybe have a spooky Halloween trail and get the whole community involved.

"My four-year-old said we should make it circus themed - she has come up with a few creepy ideas. 

"Most of our decorations are home made by me and my dad. I think we have spent about £500 on bits and pieces this year - a lot of the material is salvaged.

"I have always loved Halloween."

The Halloween decorations in Clanfield Crescent will be on display until Friday morning.