THE Rev Morphy said his reasons for being against "Trick or Treat" begin with reasons of safety, and keeping children out of trouble.

"For most of the year parents instill in their children a number of basic rules to keep them safe like: 'Don't talk to people you don't know', 'Don't take sweets from strangers', 'Don't damage property', and 'Don't do cruel things to others'.

"So why is it that each year, on October 31, these fly out of the window?

"Suddenly, it is okay and even fun to wander around in the dark, knock on the doors of complete strangers, ask for sweets, and engage in minor or sometimes serious acts of vandalism - all in the name of Hallowe'en.

"My other reasons are around the loss of what could, and should be, family fun and a celebration of human goodness.

"I don't want to be a killjoy.

"I think we can have great fun at home ducking for apples, making lanterns, cooking and eating gingerbread and so keeping alive ancient customs built around the shorter daylight and longer nights.

"This is so much better than irritating and, at worst, terrifying elderly people.

"It might also mean that we don't have to ban under 16s from buying eggs at this time of the year for fear that they will be used as WMD (Weapons of Messy Destruction).

"However, my main objection is that November 1, the feast of All Saints, should be a celebration of every act of human kindness, of human generosity, of the triumph of the human spirit over evil.

"At a time when we need such a celebration I believe that Hallowe'en and especially 'Trick or Treat' turns us in the wrong direction."

Tina Browning, from Lansdowne Road, Worcester, agrees with Mr Morphy.

But not only does she dislike trick-or-treating children, she disagrees with Hallowe'en altogether.

"It's a bad thing and a dangerous thing and I would never let my 11-year-old daughter go trick or treating," she said. "She will be going to a Hallowe'en party but I'm not really very pleased about that - I don't think Hallowe'en is a very nice tradition at all."

But Liz Gething, a 56-year-old office supervisor from Droitwich, is looking forward to the weekend.

"I have already been out and bought sweets and chocolates and they are in a bowl by the door ready for when the trick or treaters come round," she said. "It doesn't bother me.

"They are only little children and we've never had any problems."

Elizabeth and Ivor Purser, a retired couple from Shap Drive, in Warndon, admitted that it could be a bit frightening to be confronted by trick or treaters at the door but that they didn't mind youngsters having fun.

"Our children were always allowed to do it and it's nice to see the tradition carrying on," said Mr Purser.

"We give them apples or a 10p piece.

"It's only when you get gangs of them coming to the door at the same time that it's intimidating."

Droitwich student, Laura Watton, said she last trick or treated two years ago when she was 14.

"There's nothing wrong with it as long as you don't bother people who don't want bothering," she added.

"Around our area people put signs on their door if they don't want trick or treaters so you know not to go there - but I have never played a trick on anyone."