fashion: Scary styles; With prices so low, today's youngsters don't have to make their own Halloween costumes anymore

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 27, 2007

Byline: REBECCA CARTER reports

HALLOWEEN is on Wednesday. Homemade black-bag costumes are out and professional Halloween costumes are in.

Ella Tennant, nine, Joseph Tennant, six, and Jonah Torode, three, all from Gosforth are excited about the coming witching season, so we took them on a shopping trip for suitable outfits.

This year, Woolworths in the MetroCentre has a great selection of costumes for all ages, and even costumes for dogs. I let the children loose, and this is what they chose.

Ella found a black-and-red long dress-style witch's outfit complete with long red gloves and a stand up Dracula-style collar. For her second outfit she chose a black, purple and green witch's vest top and skirt and accessorised it with matching pointed witch's hat and magic wand.

Meanwhile, Joseph was keen on a creepy grim reaper costume, complete with full head mask and a foam scythe for catching his victims.

For his second outfit he was drawn to a Frankenstein's monster outfit with a green foam chest complete with moulded muscles and hood complete with a neck bolt.

Jonah chose a skeleton costume that glows in the dark and has flashing eyes. He then found a spider's costume complete with a furry stomach and extra legs.

We took the children along to the castle at Belsay Hall in Northumberland for a photo shoot.

Special thanks to Leslie, Lisa and all the team at Woolworth at the MetroCentre. For more information visit www.woolworths.co.uk. Also to Karen, Howard, Helen and all the team at Belsay Hall, Northumberland. For more information on the exciting Christmas events coming up, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk and search for Belsay Hall.

Do you deserve a makeover? or know someone who doest Following a pampering out deserving reader will then take part in a fashion shoot. If this appeals to you, or you know someone who would be cheered up by a makeover, write to Jennifer Bradbury, Evening Chronicle, Groat Market, Newcastle upon Tyne NEI IED.

CAPTION(S):

GHOUL GIRL - Ella's outfit cost pounds 12; FRIGHT TRIO - from left, Jonah in a skeleton outfit, pounds 10; Ella in a witch's top, skirt and hat, pounds 10, with a magic wand, pounds 2, and Joseph wears a Frankenstein costume, pounds 10; BOO! - Joseph wearing his Grim Reaper's gown with head mask and scythe, pounds 10 PICTURES: DAVE CHARLTON www.icNewcastle.co.uk/buyaphoto ref: 01199574