A house in Bolton has gone all out with its Halloween decorations this year to bring joy to the community as well as raising vital funds for an important charity.

Mark Allen from Smithills has decorated a frightfully thrilling display of moving skeletons, gravestones, ghostly projectors and other creepy props in the front of their house on Meliden Crescent.

Mark has made most of his props, cleverly using a back massager under some tarpaulin to make it look like a body moving in a grave. There is also a fog machine and a speaker that plays spooky music.

He’s has been decorating his house for the past four years, raising money for a different charity each year which have included Bolton Hospice and last year Cancer Research.

This year they will be raising money for Fortalice, a charity that helps women and children who have been affected by domestic abuse.

To donate to the JustGiving page, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/markallen-halloween24?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmarkallen-halloween24&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Read more: Westhoughton Hemley Close house stuns with Halloween light show

Mark said: “We do a decorated house every year for charity.

“Last year I was diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer so halfway through my chemo we did one and we raised almost £1,200 for Cancer Research.

“This year we wanted to support another charity, so we chose Fortalice which supports abused women and children. We’re going to have a QR code, and we have set up a JustGiving page people can donate to.

“We’re also going to charging £1 for children to put their head in a guillotine and take pictures.

“We do it every year, our neighbours are really supportive, and they love it. Some have even asked for me to put some decorations in their front gardens this year.”

Families can enjoy the display, which has taken around eight weeks to assemble, from October 30 to November 1 from 5pm until late.

Mark will be dressed up as Dr Death this year, complete with a top hat, tails and a skeleton decorated staff and will be welcoming children to his house aptly named ‘Melideath Cemetery’.

Mark dressed as Dr DeathMark dressed as Dr Death (Image: NQ) He said the reason they chose Fortalice is because it’s a charity close to their hearts as they have a friend who is currently being supported by the charity.

Read more: Avid cyclist creates skeleton-shaped route for Halloween-themed bike ride

Mark said: “We also asked for suggestions on Facebook for charities and the majority came back with Fortalice and Bolton Hospice, but we’ve done the hospice already.

“There’s always someone worse off and if we can help in any way we can.”

Mark said that he’s thankfully back to normal after having an operation last December to remove the tumour.

He said: “I’m 100 per cent better now, I’m living with a stoma but I’m back to normal.

“I’m really on top of it because men are stubborn and don’t talk about these things and I left it, even though I noticed blood in the toilet.

"I just put it down to a bad pint or eating something dodgy, but one night I lost half a pint of blood, so my partner said we need to go to hospital.

“They found a six-inch tumour and said I would have had 12 months to live if they hadn’t have found it.

“Every time I talk to blokes now, I tell them to not be embarrassed and if they notice anything to go to the doctors.

“If you have blood in your poo for more than three weeks, people need to get to their doctors. You’re literally dicing with your life.”

Read more: Should children be given playdough, not sweets at Halloween?

He added: “I was lucky, and they caught it in time.

“Since I’ve got better, I’ve got a new outlook on life, I’ll help anyone, I’ll do anything I want, anytime I want.

“I’m like a big kid this time of year. I absolutely love Halloween.

“I’ll be out here in the evenings all dressed up dancing and getting the kids involved.”