Scare-philly: Residents get creative for Halloween

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Donald Trump were spotted in Caerphilly on Halloween – in scarecrow form.

With Halloween coinciding with Wales’ 17-day firebreak lockdown this year, residents decided to get creative and decorate their own scarecrows.

Trick or treating was discouraged by Welsh Government as part of measures introduced to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The Mr Johnson and Mr Trump lookalikes were created by residents in Castle View, while scarecrows also sprung up in nearly every street in Hendredenny.

Sally O’Connor, who lives in Hendredenny and promoted her estate’s initiative through Facebook, told Caerphilly Observer she lost count of the number of scarecrows that had been put on display on the estate.

Ms O’Connor said: “It was something nice for the kids. We suggested it on Facebook and people got involved.

“There was even a 16ft scarecrow made from scaffolding.”

She added: “Kids and adults loved it. There’s now talk of doing something similar for Remembrance Day and Christmas.

“There was a really good reaction and a nice community spirit.

“It’s nice for something good to come out of bad time.”

Ms O’Connor said “a lot of effort” had gone into the scarecrows, which had been made using items such as straw, carrier bags, sacks, pumpkins and old clothes.

“A number of people have commented on Facebook saying they enjoyed it. Maybe we’ll do it again next year.”