A FARMER is ready for both Halloween and the pumpkin picking season this October with the creation of a giant creepy crawlie to welcome visitors.

William Alderson, 28, is growing up to 10,000 pumpkins on his Hambleton farm in preparation for October 31.

And to add some Halloween thrills to the pumpkin-picking experience, he's created a giant spider sculpture to delight - or terrify - visitors.

“We have about four and a half acres of pumpkins,” said Mr Alderson, who started the venture five-years-ago.

“People travel from all over the North-East to pick their own.

“When families arrive, they are given a wheelbarrow and they enter the pumpkin patch to go and pick what they want.

"It’s good for children to learn about growing things, and to get out in a field and get some fresh air and exercise.”

Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are on sale at weekends from Saturday, October 9 between 10am until 3pm, and every day from October 23 until Halloween.

Pumpkins range from £1.50 to £10 each and are at Atley Hill PYO Pumpkins, based at Mr Alderson’s farm - Scorton Road Farm at South Cowton, near Richmond.