Play safe this festive season

Play safe is the message as families gear up for a season of festivities.

As concerns continue about Covid- 19 infection rates, children and families are urged to remember to put safety first when enjoying Hallowe’en or Bonfire Night.

People are encouraged to enjoy alternatives to trick or treating on 31 October.

If you do go out on Hallowe’en or Bonfire Night, you must follow the safety measures:

• stick to the rule of six, indoors and outdoors – and remember that school bubbles do not apply outside school;

• maintain social distancing;

• wear a face covering in any busy place, inside or out; and

• wash your hands regularly. Remember to take hand sanitiser if you go out.

People are encouraged not to go knocking on doors on Hallowe’en or to collect sweets from communal bowls.

Alternatives that offer a memorable evening include:

• Be creative: create a pumpkin trail so everyone can join in without knocking on doors.

• Be active: get dressed up and take a walk around your neighbourhood to see homes decorated for Hallowe’en.

• Be virtual: consider an online party with decorations, fancy dress and themed food, games and stories.

• Be social: take pictures of your spooky costumes and activities to share on social media.

• Be colourful: dress up the outside of your house with Halloween decorations.

• Be treat- wise: buy your own sweets to give to your children.

• Be bright: if you carve a pumpkin, use a battery- powered light inside it to reduce the risk of fire.

Residents are being urged not to hold Bonfire Night parties at home and to consider alternatives to make the evening special.

Many organised fireworks events are cancelled because of the pandemic, but we are sharing guidance for event organisers, including villages and parish bodies, which may want to host a Covid- secure event.

Full guidance for event organisers can be downloaded at www. northyorks. gov. uk/ guidance- events

Anyone attending a bonfire event should remember:

• don’t gather around a bonfire in groups of more than six; and

• don’t share food between households – take your own.

Anyone holding a firework display must also follow the Firework Code.

Alternatives to bonfires and fireworks on 5 November include:

• Make your own Guy and display him on your doorstep. Perhaps arrange a competition with your neighbours.

• If the weather allows, try stargazing and enjoy the natural lights show in the night sky.

• Make firework and bonfireinspired snacks, toast marshmallows on your open fire, if you have one, and don’t forget the sticky parkin and warming hot chocolate.

• Try fireworks arts and crafts, such as making a toilet roll holder rocket, creating colourful firework paintings or collecting autumn leaves to make a firework collage.

• Relive the spectacular New Year firework displays in London on the BBC iPlayer.

• Go outside and enjoy the changing seasons and crisp autumn weather. Why not wrap up and take a picnic?