PARENTS living in locked-down parts of the North-East could face fines of £200 if they take their children trick or treating at Halloween this year.

Local lockdown-style restrictions, which apply to the majority of the region, states people should not mix with anyone outside of their household in any indoor setting.

This includes meeting with other households in their homes, and outdoors in their private gardens, unless they are in your support bubble.

This means getting together with friends to go trick or treating is now not allowed, reports the Lancashire Telegraph.

In parts of England where local lockdowns are not in place, trick or treating would be permitted, provided the rule of six was adhered to and no more than four children were accompanied by one adult, it is understood.

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A Downing Street spokesman said: “In local lockdown areas we have been very clear that households should not mix.

“It is correct parents will be fined if children meet in groups of more than six children.”

The Department for Health said in areas where local lockdowns are in place, trick-or-treating would be banned to help stop the spread of coronavirus, which could happen through knocking on multiple doors and accepting sweets from different households.

Instead, parents are being encouraged to take children ‘pumpkin spotting’ ­— looking for pumpkins or pictures of pumpkins in the windows of houses.

The ban on trick or treating applies to County Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Northumberland, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.

It does not apply to Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland or Stockton, as these areas are not under local lockdown-style restrictions.