EXCUSE me for coming over all grumpy again after my comments about the joys of Firework Month, but what exactly is the point of Halloween?

I keep being told it’s a celebration or holiday but I can’t see too many people out there – beyond retailers and millions of Americans – who will be celebrating much tonight.

Granted, there will be some youngsters, especially the youngest ones, who will derive a great deal of fun from dressing up and being taken to neighbours’ houses trick or treating or attending Halloween parties.

But there will be a lot of people, many of them elderly or vulnerable, for whom the thought of groups of people standing on their doorstep can be extremely intimidating.

And while I am sure the majority of those trick or treaters will act with their customary jolliness tonight, there will be the few who want to make mischief or, more likely, a bit of money instead of the traditional sweets.

On Tuesday this week, we printed a large colour sign, via Dorset Police, that could be placed in the window of your home if you felt uncomfortable about being visited tonight.

It simply read: “No calls from trick or treaters. Thank you.”

Hopefully, those people who do use the sign will be untroubled and I’m sure visitors will heed the request.

I just think it’s sad that we have to do it in the first place.