LITTLE monsters took over Lydiard Park yesterday in the run up to the spooky season.

Swindon Council ran a Halloween mask making session at the country park with children getting crafty to bring their ghoulish creations to life.

Kirsty Nichol, education outreach officer for Swindon Council, said: “We have made some really scary masks.

“All the materials are collected here from the park or our craft cupboard that has exploded into the room for the children to use including pompoms, tinsel, gauze and sequins.’’ Kirsty runs a number of seasonal sessions throughout the year including Halloween decorations and making spring bulb planters.

She aims to make the event educational and fun.

“It has an interactive element that makes it a social event too,’’ she said.

The drop-in craft session proved a big hit with mums and dads too, with glue and feathers flying across the table as around 20 aspiring artists got stuck in to creating their masks.

Ian Moore brought his four children, Chloe, 10, Justin, eight, Lewis, five and Jack, three, to the session.

“We often comes to these events, the children enjoy them,’’ said Ian.

Jackie Rowberry’s young ones, Freddie and Adam White, were really getting into the Halloween spirit.

“I am making a ghoul mask,’’ said Freddie, three.

This was their first time at the craft session and their mother was impressed at the way it was organised.

“It makes a good day out because there is the free adventure playground and they can meet other children,’’ said Jackie.

For Clara Mann it is a joy not to have to clean the mess up after they have finished their artwork.

She has three young artists, Esther, four, Lotte, seven, and Oscar, 10.

“They take after my mother who is an artist,’’ said Clara.

The young ones were not going to risk their precious offerings being ruined by taking them trick or treating.

“I am going to hang mine in my room,’’ said Lotte.

Along with the crafts, Lydiard House has a spooky bat trail for the older children where bats are concealed all around the manor.

Gill Robinson, museum receptionist, said: “Our bat trail is hugely popular, we have had a lot of families coming through this half term.

“Our resident teddy bear trail has the teddies dressed in spooky costumes.”

The Halloween mask making is continuing today with a drop in session at noon to 3pm at a cost of £3 per child.