A 'FREE offer' with a Hallowe'en flavour proved irresistible for many of the 400 families visiting Windsor Royal Shopping Centre on Saturday as they got to work carving more than 200 pumpkins.

The pumpkin carving workshops were led by Deborah James and Sarah McAllister, the winning team behind the annual Contemporary Art Fair held at Windsor Racecourse.

Deborah James said: “The afternoon was great fun as usual with 200 very enthusiastic children and their families creating some seriously scary pumpkins.”

Pumpkins were judged and prizes awarded by the Royal Borough's Deputy Mayor Cllr Colin Rayner. The best carved pumpkin won nine-year-old Fergus Andrew a Windsor Monopoly Board game.

Other activities on the day included magic shows and a pumpkin treasure hunt which lead children around the town centre looking for clues hidden in specially carved pumpkins which had been positioned in some of the town's newer stores including Madame Posh, Men Kind, Kiko and Smiggle.

New to the 'Wicked Windsor Weekend' was the Wicked Windsor story telling team.

Magical Entertainment for the day was hosted by the ever popular Mr Marvel providing an afternoon of magic and comical mayhem for young visitors.

The party culminated in a spooky fancy dress parade for three different age categories between four and 12.

Little Eva Evlake, four, from Slough was chosen as the spookiest in her age group.

The event was established 12 years ago by the Windsor, Eton and Ascot Town Partnership and is now sponsored by Windsor Royal Shopping Centre. Centre Manager Sue Watts said: “This event seems to be busier each year and everyone whether a parent, grandparent or older sibling seemed to enjoy themselves and we were delighted with the success of the event.”