THE extent to which people regard 'trick or treating' as a problem was indicated by the fact that Malvern Neigbourhood Watch got rid of all 500 of its 'No Trick or Treat calls' posters within two days following our story on the front page of last week's Malvern Gazette.

We wouldn't go as far as our correspondents this week, who regard 'trick or treating' as breaking the law, although it did start in America in the early 20th Century with Irish labourers using Hallowe'en as an opportunity to demand money with menaces.

In America, it is now a long-established part of popular culture. Here, it seems to have been imported from television and is neither understood or appreciated by most people and probably never will be.

While you might not mind providing sweets for younger children, this is spoilt by the armies of older teenagers, usually not in fancy dress, who just seem to use 'trick or treat' as an excuse to see what they can get out of people.

It is not surprising that older people find this kind of visitor on their doorstep intimidating - it's not just older people.

When we were first married, my wife and I used to go out or turn all the lights out and go to bed early to avoid the legions of teenagers banging on the front door. You can't guarantee to miss them just by being out on one night as 'trick or treaters' can turn up any time for a week either side of Hallowe'en.

If 'trick of treat' were confined to groups of younger children, who have taken the trouble to wear fancy dress and are supervised by their parents, more people would be prepared to join in. As ever the fault lies with parents.

NICK HOWELLS