A FAMILY is getting ready to turn their home into a Halloween horror house to help raise money for a vital Halstead group. 

Daniel Hawkins, 35, started creating the spooky displays in 2017, when he and his family moved to Cherry Tree Close in Halstead.

This year will mark the seventh year the family has decorated their house with all things spooky. 

It will raise money for Halstead in Bloom. 

“I have decorated the house every year since we moved here,” Daniel said.

“I started it for my daughter Emily and then it became a bit of a hobby.

“I enjoy making props and getting creative.

“It gradually got bigger, and the neighbours got involved and now it’s just a big joint effort from the whole road.”

The house is located on Cherry tree close in HalsteadThe house is located on Cherry tree close in Halstead (Image: Daniel Hawkins) Each year, residents of the area come together to help the Hawkins family prepare for their display, making props and creating sweet bags.

The mission is self-funded, with community members donating old wood and other materials for prop making.

For last year’s display, a solicitor in Colchester donated a large amount of sweets for the family to hand out to children on Halloween night.

“The sweets last year were donated which was amazing,” Daniel said.

“Other than that, we buy the sweets each year and make around 400 bags of sweets and still usually run out.

“We change the display up every year.

“This year, there will be a bigger and better pirate ship hopefully.

“There may be a few new additions, but we don't want to give too much away and spoil the fun."

The whole neighbourhood work together to create the displayThe whole neighbourhood work together to create the display (Image: Daniel Hawkins) All funds made by the display are donated to Halstead in Bloom, to support them in keeping the town green.

“The most rewarding part of the display is bringing the community together and being able to raise funds for a local charity, which is always Halstead in Bloom,” Daniel said.

“We feel that they do such an amazing job in the town.

“I also like hearing the families' reactions to the displays and how amazed people are by it, makes it all worth it to see everyone enjoying it.

“A huge thank you to our whole road that gets involved as if we didn't all come together, it wouldn't be half as good as it is now – it really is a joint effort.

“Another huge thanks to the community for supporting us for the last few years and donating to our chosen charity, we really appreciate it!”

The display will be visible on October 31 in Cherry Tree Close, in Halstead.