More than 30 shops stayed open an hour late for Halloween, so that children couldexperience a safe and free alternative to the usual style of trick or treating.
Most shops ran out of sweets within the first 30 minutes of the one-hour event.
Organised by Iris and Dora and the Smile for Georgie Foundation, the unique event gave parents and children the opportunity to knock on the doors of traders rather than strangers.
‘It is just bonkers,’ said Jenny Le Prevost from Smile for Georgie.
The shop had ordered 12,000 sweets, or 101 kilos, and all were gone within the first half an hour.
‘We didn’t know what to expect, it has been amazing. Next year we will definitely stock up more. It’s great – some shops who weren’t involved decided to stay open late anyway as they felt left out,’ said Mrs Le Prevost.
She apologised to trick or treaters who did not manage to get many sweets, and said they never expected it to be so popular.
Vaughan Davies, who recently closed his store in the Arcade, had decided to still take part.
‘It’s an alternative to children running around the estates and things. I love the fact it is in Town. It is even busier than when Father Christmas comes to Town to turn on the lights – it’s just awesome, Town is so dead at the moment,’ he said.
Skellybones, also known as Tommy Creber, 8, was out with his family.
He chose his own skeleton costume and had managed to get a couple of sweets from the shops he’d been to.
‘My favourite part of Halloween is getting all the free sweets,’ he said.
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