Traditional Halloween hack through Moss Bank Park

But on this occasion there was no need to run for cover - rather it provided a thrill for visitors at Moss Bank Park.

The ghoulish character joined various characters for the traditional spooktacular parade who looked frightfully splendid.

For the annual McGuinness’s Higher Tongs Farm Halloween hack was back.

The Halloween display started at the Smithills farm.

Riders dressed themselves and their horses in spooky costumes for the ride down through Barrow Bridge to Moss Bank Park, delighting passers-by as well as adults and children in the park.

The farm is known for its Halloween displays as well as staging Christmas and Easter celebrations too.

Jane Brookes, who is talented at sewing, created her own the fancy dress piece.

She dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, had her 17.2 hand horse, Erin, disguised as a wolf.

She said: “She is such a good girl and we have had so many sittings and dress rehearsals when I have been making her mask and the outfit.

“Every year we go as something different, I did make some granny glasses for Erin to wear as the wolf as well but I think the mask, bonnet and bib are enough for now! 

“The mouth on Erin’s mask took me a while to make and figure out how to keep it in place without being restrictive but everything else only took a couple of weeks.”

Read more: Higher Tongs Farm Christmas ride out tradition continues

Other characters included  Wednesday Adams, and Cousin IT.

Pumpkin, Harley Quinn, wicked witch, Cruella Deville and many more joined the parade.

One young rider, Alisha Wright, said she was excited but also nervous for the hack.

She said: “It is fun dressing up and because my horse is called Pumpkin we had to dress him up as one.

“He is a bit excited and he doesn’t seem to want to stop at the moment so I am a little bit nervous.”

Riders and the farm put on the yearly treat because ‘it puts a smile on children's faces’ ­— as well as being fun for those who work on the farm.