Here's a tale of a pumpkin trail rip-off. Lured to Preston Park by promises of hundreds of Jack-o-lanterns, ghost tales, the chance of winning prizes, face painting, refreshments and bewitching beverages, I set off with the kids who were full of anticipation for an exciting adventure.

We even dragged some of our friends along - so convincing was the hype. Dutifully paying the ghoulish sum of £4.50 per adult and £2.50 per child, we entered the Rockery expecting great things.

As we made our way round, we were quite impressed by the pumpkins - of which there might have been 100. But as we came to the end of the trail, we started to wonder where the rest of it was.

We certainly hadn't come across any surprises in the woods and the only bewitching beverages were tea, coffee and pumpkin soup.

We carried on, hoping to find some mysterious figure telling ghostly tales but were none - and there were no prizes to be won either.

As a consolation, we paid an extra pound for the kids to get their faces painted.

I wish I had taken them home and done it myself as the

face-painting was awful.

-Jo Sadd, Brighton