Parents turn to costume swap to cut Halloween costs
One mother said Halloween outfits are "completely extortionate" as families pick up free alternatives.
Lola Roberts said donating unwanted Halloween costumes would help other families save money
Parents in Merseyside are turning to a free Halloween costume swap scheme to avoid prices one mother described as "completely extortionate".
Lola Roberts, who visited Prescot Library with her children, said her son had chosen a clown costume costing £40, so she showed him free alternatives.
Knowsley Council is running the scheme during half-term to help families save money and reduce the number of costumes thrown away after Halloween.
Organisers said the scheme had proved popular, with children trying on costumes and taking part in craft activities.
Lola Roberts said donating unwanted Halloween costumes would help other families save money
Roberts said she had originally visited the library after seeing a poster advertising an activity where children could decorate their own bags.
After discovering the swap shop, she said she was pleased to see so many families taking part.
She said she had already put aside a bag of unwanted costumes at home and welcomed the opportunity for other families to reuse them.
"There's such a good sense of community here," she said.
Roberts called for similar events to be held throughout the year, saying children also needed fancy dress outfits for school discos and other occasions.
She said she did not want children to feel left out because their families could not afford costumes.
Grace Barlow said the scheme aimed to ease financial pressure on families and reduce textile waste
Grace Barlow, from Knowsley Council's recycling engagement team, said the initiative aimed to ease financial pressure on parents while reducing textile waste.
"There's such a huge pressure on parents to be buying new costumes every year," she said.
Barlow, who has two children, said she knew how costumes could end up being stored away or thrown out after only one use.
The council hopes unwanted costumes will be donated and reused by other families
She said the council had previously held popular events offering pre-loved Christmas jumpers and hoped the Halloween scheme would continue in future years.
The council is encouraging families to donate unwanted costumes at collection points in its libraries after Halloween so they can be reused next year.
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