CHILDREN trying to buy eggs and flour throughout the Halloween holiday could be refused by stores unless they are with an adult.

A campaign of West Mercia and Warwickshire Police forces urges shops to be on their guard when anyone under the age of 18 attempts to buy the products, in a bid to tackle Halloween pranks. 

Posters have been given out by local policing teams.

Dylan Evans, police communications manager at Warwickshire and West Mercia police, said the posters would be available to use if there had been a history of problems in the shop or area, but none had been specifically requested in Worcester.

Click here to download your poster

The Co-operative, in the Bullring, St John’s, Worcester, said they had taken part in the initiative before but were not doing so this year.

Richard Brixey, store manager, said: “We don’t ban them [under 18s] we just take a common sense approach. We ask our staff to be vigilant.

"We are always cautious at this time and the last thing we want to do is cause trouble for the local residents and if we do think the produce would be used for pranks, we won’t sell it.” 

Safer Neighbourhood Teams across the policing areas will also be handing out ‘Sorry, No Trick or Treat’ leaflets for residents who do not want to be disturbed by trick-or-treaters.