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Anglers turn to Halloween to tackle winter bills

BBC Two people entering wood covered in Halloween cobwebsBBC
The Halloween trail runs for eight nights

A fishing lake has turned to putting on Halloween events in a bid to tackle rising costs.

Partridge Lakes Fishery in Culcheth in Warrington is holding its Halloween Trail event each night until 31 October.

The site's Barbara Ikin said the "panic" at seeing margins squeezed each winter prompted the decision.

"It's just trying to find that really nice balance of having things on the side that can support [the fishery] but not interfere with it," she said.

Barbara Ikin has long brown hair, is wearing a black top, and is standing next to a lake
Barbara Ikin said fishery outlays "are phenomenal"

Ms Ikin said the cost of running the 70-acre site was "phenomenal".

She said: "As things got tighter, margins got smaller, each winter I was watching this trend and it was getting harder and harder.

"We are constantly outlaying, so I thought 'let's put something in to support it'."

Ms Ikin said she came up with the idea for a Halloween lakeside trail along with friend and business partner Callum Morgan.

A scarecrow with a pumpkin for a head is standing in front of a fishing lake
The Halloween trail takes place on part of the 70 acre site

The events will employ about 100 people.

Ms Ikin added: "The balance with the anglers and visitors has been really good.

"We are open really lucky to be on such a big site.

"We are starting on one-third of it, and plan to keep growing over the next few years.

"It's just having that bit on the side that helps."

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