GHOULS and ghosts are headed to the town centre, as the Meca hosts this year’s Swindon Screams.

The annual Halloween party is moving to the town centre venue, after last year delighting fright fans at Grange Leisure.

Produced by InSwindon, the event will this year have a more family-friendly focus. It will feature costumed horrors and entertainment from Skywalkers.

Kids and their parents are encouraged to dust off their Thriller costumes and squeeze on their werewolf head.

The festivities, which take place on Sunday, October 29, between 12pm – 2pm and 3pm – 5pm, will feature famous film villains and heroes – among them Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street, masked marauder Michael Myers from the Halloween films and the more friendly Harry Potter hero Hagrid. A troop of zombies will be released into the room.

Families will also have the chance to get their picture taken alongside a ferocious T-Rex. A replica electric chair will also offer another shocking photo opportunity for those dying to get that once in a lifetime selfie.

A fancy dress competition should encourage kids to get inventive with their Halloween costumes. And a fortune teller will give them an idea of whether or not they’re in with a chance of winning the title.

Families will also have a chance to boogie the afternoon away, with a disco DJ and Halloween host likely playing Thriller, Monster Mash and the Twilight Zone – among other spooky season classics.

Helping to get the party moving will be performers from Swindon Dance and Julie Scott’s Academy.

This year, the event is being supported by inSwindon, a business-backed scheme aimed at improving the town centre.

Anthony Purcell, inSwindon marketing coordinator said: “We are really looking forward to bringing this event to the town centre. There will be plenty of ‘spooktacular’ activities and entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

“Don’t forget to head over to the Big Giant Party Shop, Giggles or Skywalkers to purchase your Halloween costumes for the fancy dress competition.”

The Swindon Town Centre Screams for Halloween event will be at Meca on Sunday, October 29. There will be two sessions, at 12pm – 2pm and 3pm – 5pm.

Tickets are £6 per person, with a family ticket (two adults, two children) available for £20. They can be bought from www.swindonmeca.co.uk.