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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Oliver Pridmore

Heanor grandmother's Halloween house with gravestones, cobwebs and even a fog machine

A Heanor woman who looks after 10 children and seven dogs whilst working as a cleaner has found time to go all-out for Halloween by festooning her house with props ranging from gravestones to cobwebs. Alison Clarke, 53, says that she has never been a major Halloween fan but that her grandchildren and husband are and therefore gets into the festive sprit for "the easy life."

She said: "A lot of the props are actually home-made by my husband. We have bought a few of them, but he managed to make the gravestone out of recycled polystyrene and he's made a fog machine this year which will make it all look a bit more eerie.

"It's just something nice for the children and anyone who lives locally to come round and enjoy. The decorations are all at the front of the house but then we've got the green across the road where we'll put food out for everyone.

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"We did actually have a campaign a few years ago now where the council wanted to build on the greens. We won and they can't be built on now, but it's good to keep events going and show that we're using them."

Alison and Jason Clarke in Halloween masks amid their decorations. (Submitted)

Alison and her husband Jason have found time to do all the house decoration whilst looking after nine grandchildren and a step-grandchild. Alison also walks her seven dogs and works as a cleaner.

She said: "It's definitely a busy life but that's the way you want it to be. It does look great having the house decorated because we've got all the lighting set up and everything."

For next year's festivities, Jason is thinking about building a 20ft pumpkin to go outside the house. For this year's event though, locals in Heanor are invited to Thorpe Hill Drive from 5pm until 7pm tonight (October 30).

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