Families at the arc Shopping Centre, in Bury St Edmunds, help fund-raise for rickshaw charity with half-term event

Families at the arc Shopping Centre in Bury St Edmunds have been getting into the Halloween spirit meeting witches and creepy crawlies.

The free event, taking place today, was organised to fund-raise for the Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw Charity - which offered free rides to shoppers.

Children enjoying their half-term holidays had their photo taken with witches from Ruby Flames Entertainment.

Animal enthusiasts, including eight-year-old Brooklyn Anderson, of Haverhill, were keen to get a closer look at snakes, cockroaches, scorpions and millipedes.

Brooklyn said holding a hissing cockroach was ‘pretty okay’ but ‘felt a bit weird’.

Other children queued patiently to have their faces painted with Halloween designs.

Amanda Martin, trustee of Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw, thanked Allan Hassell, arc Centre manager, for the year of fundraising it is doing for the charity.

“It has been a dream come true and great to be able to pitch up today and talk about the services we offer,” said Amanda, who was giving a lift to Sharon Bridgman a stroke survivor whose family helps sponsor the rickshaw charity.

Shoppers at the Halloween event were also able to buy a Ride the Rickshaw book, with the full £5 cost going directly to Bury St Edmunds Rickshaw.

See more photos of the arc Halloween activities below