In Pictures: Spooky castles and skeleton crews mark Halloween

Homeowners have been embracing the spooky season throughout the day by transforming their cosy homes into haunted mansions for Halloween.

Trick-or-treaters in search of sweets face braving spooky gardens across the UK and Ireland if they dare.

Electrician Ken Carraher continues preparations on his Halloween House of Horrors in Killiney, Dublin
Electrician Ken Carraher created his Halloween House of Horrors in Killiney, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Halloween decorations in the garden of a home in Larbert, near Falkirk
Halloween decorations in the garden of a home in Larbert, near Falkirk (Andrew Milligan/PA)

A mock-up Halloween-themed shop in the garden of a house in Kent
There was no holding back on the decorations at the house in Rainham, where a crew of skeleton pirates were waiting for trick-or-treaters (Gareth Fuller/PA)

A house decorated with a “Nightmare Before Christmas” themed Halloween display
The garden was set up to welcome trick or treaters on All Hallows’ Eve (Gareth Fuller/PA)

And beware, things can get even creepier for those invited indoors.

Nine-year-olds Freddy and his sister Darcy at their home in Woodbridge, Suffolk
Nine-year-olds Freddy and his sister Darcy at their home in Woodbridge, Suffolk (Joe Giddens/PA)

At the home of Dracula, visitors to Whitby Abbey were treated to an illumination display and a production of If These Stones Could Talk.

Lights illuminate the ruins of Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire to mark Halloween
Lights illuminate the ruins of Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire to mark Halloween (Danny Lawson/PA)

The eeriness ramped up several notches as night fell and darkness swept across the land.

A house decorated for Halloween in Ashford, Kent
A house decorated for Halloween in Ashford, Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA)

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