A bishop has pleaded with parents to dress children as local saints to reclaim Halloween as a Christian feast.

The Rt. Rev Kieran Conry, Bishop of Brighton and Arundel, is urging Sussex residents not to fall into the trap of a “commercial” and “meaningless” celebration.

Bishop Conry suggested children ditch ghoulish outfits and instead dress up as St Wilfrid, who taught the people of Sussex net-fishing in 681Ad , or St. Cuthman, who wheeled his mother 25 miles in a wheelbarrow to found a Steyning church.

He added: “Halloween celebrates absolutely nothing at all, there’s no substance to it.

“It’s the biggest rip-off.

“Instead of dressing up as a ghost or a ghoul children don’t understand, why not dress up as someone with a real story and meaning?"

For full report see today's Argus.