More than a thousand trick-or-treaters have descended on family home in Tilehurst that turned itself into a spook-tacular display for Halloween. 

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

And the family's hard work has paid off - with the haunting scene attracting more than a thousand children out trick-or-treating, as well as a boost to the family's charity fundraising. 

"It was a roaring success," mum-of-two Rebecca Gill said. "We had so many people in awe of the displays, saying, 'I have never seen anything like it'.

"We gave out over 700 bags of sweets. 

"It made all the hard work worth it."

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

Children in fancy dress began turning up as early as 3.30pm yesterday, according to Rebecca, who said the family faced a near constant stream of people until 8.30pm at night. 

Some neighbours have made tongue-in-cheek complaints about the demand placed on their sweet stores during the Halloween evening. 

Rebecca said: "The neighbours said, 'this is all your fault - we have given out all our sweets by 6.30pm'."

"The atmosphere was amazing. And we wanted to say thank you to everyone in the neighbourhood for putting out decorations and getting involved. 

"It was a fantastic night."

The Halloween displays featured QR codes for donations to MacMillan Cancer Support, a cause close the family's heart.

A nursing team from the cancer charity supported Rebecca's aunty-in-law, Valerie Winslade from Eastbourne, 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 Gill family have said they are over the moon with the turnout for their Halloween displays. The Gill family have said they are over the moon with the turnout for their Halloween displays. (Image: NQ)

Now the Halloween festivities have led to a boost to donations on the family's JustGiving page - which stands at more than £860. 

Rebecca said: "He had lots of people saying they would donate in the morning as there were some issues with the QR codes - I've checked this morning and we have had quite a few donations."

The family had put on a Halloween display last year and the year before at previous address in Thatcham - but they said this year was 'definitely the best year yet'.

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

Rebecca said: "We can't wait."