YOUNGSTERS received an early grounding in the traditions of Halloween.
Sandcastles Soft Play, in Chester-le-Street, staged a Halloween costume party for 16 of its regular clients.
The Front Street premises is aimed at the under-sixes, filling a void in the children's recreation market.
Owner Julie Nicholson, the chief witch for the evening, said it was probably the first Halloween party many of the children had attended.
She said: "We had to tailor it slightly to account for the young age of the children.
"I have two children who are ten and six now. When they were younger I would go all over looking for somewhere like this.
"A lot of soft play areas get over-run by older children, but we have an upper age limit of six, so the parents can come along, have a cup of tea or coffee, and let their little ones have a good play in a safe environment."
She opened Sandcastles in April, with backing from the Chester-le-Street and City of Durham Enterprise Agency.
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