When your Halloween house makeover scares kids

Tasha Quick and Elliot Smith have turned their home into a 'derelict haunted house'

Perhaps you've thought about putting the odd pumpkin in a window as Halloween approaches, or stocking up on sweets should trick-or-treaters call round.

But how many of you have thought about giving your property a complete "hell house" makeover, from doorstep to roof - and one reportedly so scary, children have feared to tread?

For one Stafford couple at least, it's become an annual event. But why go to the effort of creepy creations that seem to impress, delight and spook in equal measure?

Tasha Quick, who this season has taken decorations to the next level with partner Elliot Smith, says it's because they enjoy seeing the reactions. There is also not the insignificant aspect of raising money for charity.

This year, the pair have decorated their end terrace home on Oxford Gardens to look like an old boarded-up haunted house - complete with a garden "graveyard" and mini maze.

There is no word yet on reaction to the maze, but things will have to be super scary to trump its predecessor. "We did a big one last year but the children were too scared to go in it,” Ms Quick told BBC Radio Stoke.

Tasha Quick said she enjoyed putting the decorations up over the last month

Ms Quick said her partner had done the bulk of the work on the house itself, while she had done the “lighter touches”.

“On Halloween night it’s really great seeing all the kids dressed up and being scared and spooked out," she explained.

“I love it, I love seeing all the kids’ faces, it gets everyone in the spirit.”

Tasha Quick and Elliot Smith are raising money for a children's cancer charity

As part of the transformation, the couple are raising money for the Stafford-based charity Childhood Cancer Parents Alliance.

People are able to donate by leaving money in a donation box at the front of the house when visiting.

The windows and doors have been boarded up as part of the transformation