Warning over leaving Halloween pumpkins in New Forest

FORESTRY England is calling on people celebrating Halloween not to dump their pumpkins in public as it can make wild animals ill.

While viral posts on social media have encouraged people to leave out the leftover fruits, Forestry England say they are not natural to woodland and should instead be passed to local zoos, farms or community gardens who may use it as compost material or safely give to animals.

FE also suggests making bird feeders and face masks instead of binning pumpkins.