Get into some ghoulish goings-on this Hallowe'en. MAXINE GORDON sets the scene.

Make sure things go bump in the night this Friday by getting into the spirit of Hallowe'en.

If you are hosting a party, or planning to go trick and treating, there's a great range of ghoulish costumes, food and decorations to get you in the mood.

Stock up on trick or treat goodie bags for those creepy callers. The Spooky Boo Bag (£1.99) at Marks & Spencer contains a mix of milk chocolates and jelly bats while the Hallowe'en Trick Or Treat Tub (£4.99) is ideal for sharing and has chocolate lollies and jelly sweets.

Aldi has Hallowe'enies (49p for 90g), milk chocolate mini balls in orange and black sugar shells which are also ideal for trick and treating. The Hallowe'en Grab Bag (79p) contains spooky sweets and toys while the Hallowe'en Gummies (49p) are wine-gum based sweets in a skull design.

Safeway also has a range of fun confectionery: Creepy Chocolate Lollies (99p) and Gruesome Ghost Nets (99p) and also Pumpkin Buckets (£2.99 for 40 lollies) which are also perfect for collecting goodies if you are going trick or treating.

Party animals are also spoilt for choice when it comes to ghostly goodies and snacks for Hallowe'en. Safeway's Spooky Spider Cake (£4.99) would make a perfect centre piece, while Mini Gingerbread Pumpkins and Bats (£1.99 a bucket) and Gingerbread Spider Webs and Pumpkins (34p each) will finish off the look.

Dressing up is all part of the Hallowe'en fun. Safeway is selling Black Witch costumes (£6.99) and Glitter Witch outfits (£9.99) as well as Zombie and Mummy outfits for a tenner.

No Hallowe'en party would be complete without a mask. We liked the ultra-scary Monstrous Menagerie Mask (£3.99) and the Bearded Beauty Mask (£9.99), both at Safeway.

M&S also has a great selection of wizard, witch and monster outfits and ghoulish masks and is a great place to buy Hallowe'en-themed accessories for the home.

There's a banner (£2.50), Pumpkin Garland (£2.50) and Door Hanger (£4) as well as paper cups, plates, napkins and straws, priced from £1.50.

For party snacks, choose from Mini Wizard Toad In The Hole (£2.99 for 12), Ghostly Sausage Fingers with Tomato Devil Dip (£1.99 for 12), Flying Witch Cake (£6.99) and Pumpkin Gingerbread (£1.19).

Ten Hallowe'en facts:

1 Hallowe'en comes from hallow or holy.

2 Hallowe'en folk customs originally come from Irish immigrants after 1840 who believed October 31 marked the Celtic New Year.

3 The day is a feast for the dead.

4 Hallowe'en was seen as the end of summer and the beginning of winter. The 'veil between the worlds' of the living and the dead was said to be at its thinnest on this day, so the dead were invited back to feast with their loved ones.

5 Wearing costumes is an ancient practice. Villagers would dress as ghosts to escort the spirits of the dead to the outskirts of town at the end of the feast.

6 Curses were invoked on those who did not give generously to New Year Feast collections and those who did were blessed and praised. The USA developed this into today's trick or treat.

7 An old Irish belief says that if you hear footsteps behind you on Hallowe'en night, they could be the footsteps of the dead. But don't turn to face them or you could join them.

8 October 31 lies exactly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice, thought to be a potent time for magic and links with spirits.

9 In rural communities, it is believed lighting bonfires and pumpkin lanterns protects against evil.

10 Apple ducking or bobbing is a traditional game still played today - the larger the apple the bigger the fortune.

Updated: 09:40 Tuesday, October 28, 2003