BROADHEATH has been home to the most spooky Halloween house for the past few years and this year was no different.

Ian Bird, of 35 Princess Street, and his family transform their house with scary decorations every year and it’s definitely been turning people’s heads.

The spooky house has become such an attraction that it even appeared on CBBC’s Newsround programme on Halloween night this year. Ian described the experience as 'brilliant'.

Any money received from the home goes to charity and this year, Ian and his family managed to raise a grand total of £250.

This money has been donated to Manor High School in Sale which helps children with special needs, like Ian’s youngest daughter, learn in the best possible way.

Ian explained that there were some differences to the haunted house this year.

He said: “We actually had more screams from adults this year rather than children. The best reactions came from the swamp in the garden. People thought the body was just a prop and really screamed when it moved. It stopped everyone coming in.”

He also wanted to thank people for their donations. J Davidson’s Scrap Metal Processors supplied sweets whilst Atlantic Timber helped with gravestones, coffins and the swamp well. Asda Living and Hobbeycraft also supplied costumes and decorations.

The scary house will be back again next year but before that, Ian has plans to work on another haunted camp site in Wales as part of a lifeboat show in August.

 

(Published in the Sale & Altrincham Messenger on the 7th November 2013.)

A STRETFORD resident from Ripon Road has expressed his concerns about vandalism in the area.

There has been ongoing problems for a while but it all got too much for the citizen when a group of teenagers destroyed three saplings in Ripon Park on Monday night.

The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "It was at about 8pm when the teenagers destroyed the saplings, they literally broke them in half.

"There used to be police patrols here in the past and Ripon Road was designated a hot spot but the patrols stopped a year ago. I think it happened on Monday because of the fireworks and excitement surrounding bonfire night."

He claimed that these acts of vandalism have angered a lot of people in the area.

There are organised meetings, which used to be monthly, at the library every two months, where concerned residents gather and discuss how they are going to improve the park.

The upset resident who contacted Messenger about the road's problems said:

"The teenagers throw stones. They are having stone fights and they are playing football over the flowers in the park, it's not for football. We put beautiful flowers in once and the day after; they'd pulled them all out."

Jonathan Coupe, executive councillor for safe and strong communities, said: "The council has not received any reports of recent incidents or anti-social behaviour on Ripon Road.

"We remain committed to driving down these figures and we will work with the public to identify those involved in incidents like that reported on Ripon Road."

(Published in the Stretford & Urmston Messenger on the 7th November 2013.)