The organiser of a Hallowe’en event in Sorn has said that their event will go ahead because the trail format they have planned will mean it is COVID-safe and not like traditional guising.

Zoe Coward, of the Sorn Parent Council, said that the event will be more like a “socially distanced walk through the town” and that the kids taking part will not be “chapping on doors”.

It comes after the Scottish Government advised that children should stay home this Hallowe’en. Deputy First Minister John Swinney said this was because “door-to-door guising brings an additional and avoidable risk of spreading the virus”.

The Sorn alternative to traditional guising was planned with coronavirus in mind and every precaution has been taken to minimise the chance of transmission of the virus.

The risks that the Deputy First Minister talked of have been largely negated through the fact that the Sorn Pumpkin Trail will not involve children knocking on people's doors and receiving sweets from those behind the doors.

Some residents have said they will provide sweets however, with some hanging them from trees in their gardens or on tables, provided with hand sanitiser, as well as the sweet treats so that the risk of transmission is reduced.

This Saturday (October 31) from 5-7pm kids will take to the town with their own parents, as if they were conducting their usual daily exercise, and will look out for pumpkins displayed in people’s gardens, that conceal letters.

The children’s job is to collect all the letters, which spell out a word, which they will present to Zoe who will be waiting at the end of the trail with a bag of goodies.