POLICE in Taunton and Wellington have promised to ‘deal firmly’ with anti-social behaviour in a bid to keep the horror out of Hallowe’en this week.

Officers in the towns will be carrying out high visibility patrols in hot-spot areas and have set up a special hotline for people in Taunton, Wellington and Wiveliscombe to report problems.

They have also teamed up with Taunton Deane Council to provide a ‘cleaning wagon’ to clear up eggs, flour and other rubbish left on streets and houses.

Hallowe’en is often the busiest night of the year for police with the number of 999 calls tripling last year between 7pm and 10pm compared to an average night.

This year, as part of a raft of initiatives, police have been working with local schools to raise awareness of personal safety as well as asking children to respect notices in windows requesting ‘no trick or treat callers’.

They have teamed up with the fire service to invite young people to a barbecue at Huish Woods where they can have some fun in a supervised environment.

Officers will also be on hand at the Energise Youth Disco at Dellers Wharf nightclub tomorrow (Friday).

Insp Roger Tolley said: "As part of our on-going Operation Relentless we will have a strong uniformed presence on the streets. Officers and Police Community Support Off-icers will deal firmly with any reported anti-social behaviour on the night.

"We want to ensure that younger children don't put themselves at risk, by making sure they know not to go off with strangers, to stay in groups and wear reflective or bright clothing so they can be seen on the road.”

The police hotline will be open from 5.30pm on Friday until the early hours of Saturday on 07964-345867.