TREKNOW village saw its biggest crowds ever on Saturday, October 31 as people gathered from all over North Cornwall to walk through Treknow with candle lit lanterns of all shapes and sizes.

The beautifully lit parade gathered at the mound at the top of Treknow at 6pm while people enjoyed mulled wine and chestnuts.

Well over 300 people, many in Halloween fancy dress walked with their lanterns down through the village along the route lit by lanterns and pumpkins on walls, hedges and window sills led by Dave Gabriel, the Pied Piper.

The idea behind the Festival of Lanterns was a celebration of all natural light without the pollution of artifical illuminations and an opportunity to experience the splendor of so many carefully crafted lanterns at any one time.

The Treknow Village Hall Committee held a fancy dress and best guy competition. Jodie Desousa won the fancy dress for her Pink Witch and the Treknow Rainbows won the best dressed guy who — as the winning Guy — was then thrown on the bonfire by Clive Sandercock.

The Village Hall was open for drinks, hot dogs and burgers while the bonfire was lit and a fantastic firework display was held in Harvey Brown's field in the middle of the village. After the fireworks the well known Cornish folk band The Tree Tops played in the hall creating a wonderful relaxed party atmosphere and the dancing went on until midnight.

Melville Rowe, chair of the village hall committee said: "It really was a fantastic evening and a great atmosphere. People loved doing something new and lots of people have been asking if we'll do it again next year. We definitely will because it was such a success — it really was a good night."

The Village Hall committee has expressed thanks to all the sponsors of the event.

Melville added: "It's events like this with good sponsorship and excellent support from people that really keep Treknow Village Hall going so thank you everyone for supporting us whether it was through sponsorship or coming along and having a good time. Treknow has a strong community and the hall is run on a voluntary basis by a management committee with all the costs of running and maintaining the hall met through renting it to local groups and fundraising by events like this.