CANDLES were lit by youngsters at a church’s light party organised as an alternative to Halloween.

Children enjoyed apple bobbing, painting and a bouncy castle at St Luke’s Church in Canning Crescent, South Oxford, on Monday.

Billie-Jo Bourton, 13, from South Oxford, enjoyed the celebration. She said: “We just played some games.Because we are a church we don’t want to celebrate Halloween because it is dark.”

Vicar Jane Sherwood said the party was organised to reclaim All Hallows’ Eve as a festival of light.

Youngsters also took part in a chocolate money hunt in the church garden.