Dismay as young vandals target Halloween display
Louts targeted a Halloween display wrenching lights from their settings and hurling pumpkins at cars and a group of teenagers.
The show had been created by couple John Walker and Stevie Adams, who run Lighting Up Allington and put on events at their Castle Road home.
Their first show was at Christmas and their house was decked out in lights to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice in memory of Mr Walker’s godmother, Barbara Burt.
It raised £1,300 and to follow its success they decided on a Halloween spectacular, featuring several light shows.
They were relaxing after the final show at 8.30pm on Monday by catching up on East Enders when they heard a loud bang.
Vandals had pulled the lights away from the display, but the pair thought it was just a noise on the TV.
Mr Walker, 41, said: “After a couple of minutes we thought it could have been outside after all, and when we opened the front door we spotted a couple of pumpkins had moved.”
It was then Mr Adams, 31, went out to search for anyone who may have seen the thieves.
He met a group of teenagers who had pumpkins thrown at them from a car they thought was a Vauxhall Corsa. Steve Harris, who lives near by, had his Audi damaged by one of them being thrown.
He said: “I heard a bang out the front of the house. It sounded like a car hitting another, so I looked out the window.
“As I looked out, I noticed a young lad running from my car and saw a smashed pumpkin and dent in the boot.”
He drove round the roads trying to find the group responsible but wasn’t able to.
The lights, which were inside the jack-o-lanterns, were later found strewn over the road.
Mr Walker added: “We obviously feel responsible and guilty for the damage to the Audi, as it was one of our pumpkins that caused it.
“We have thought about not doing the show at Christmas because of this, but it’s for such a good cause, so we’re planning to go ahead.”
The incident happened around 9.50pm. A business has offered CCTV coverage for future Lighting Up Allington events.
See Halloween in pictures on pages 16-17