A SPOOKY competition is set to hit Stirling’s town centre next week.

Young people will be challenged to spot Halloween witches and ghouls in shops and cafés for a chance to win an iPad.

The Spooky Halloween Trail will be launched by Go Forth Stirling, the town’s business improvement district (BID) organisation, next week with a dozen places taking part.

Those included in the trail range from the Vue to the Albert Halls and families can pick up a map and leaflet to keep track off all the spooky symbols they spot at the various shops and venues.

The trail will be launched next Monday, October 14, ending on Sunday, November 3.

It is also supporting Stirling Council’s Halloween Lantern Parade, held for the first time on Saturday, November 2, starting on Broad Street at around 5.30pm.

Go Forth Stirling’s popular Landtrain will be at the head of the parade and will be dressed up for the occasion.

The family-run Pend Café and Deli in Port Street, where Leanne Wilson helps run the show with parents Irene and Geoff Williams, is also included in the trail.

Leanne said: “Here at The Pend we love Halloween and the feeling it invokes with the cold air and spooky dangers lurking around every corner.

“We are delighted to be part of the BID’s Halloween Trail; it’s a great idea and we hope everyone involved has a Spooktacular time!”

Mags Fenner, manager of Go Forth Stirling, added: “We’re excited to be involved in this year’s Halloween Festival and to work in partnership with Stirling Council supporting this initiative.

“Our Halloween Trail offers families some fun and gives them the chance to get out and visit all the amazing shops we have in Stirling during the October school holiday week and the run up to Halloween.

“The businesses taking part cover the whole of the BID area and the trail provides a great opportunity for our shops and cafés to be part of a fun initiative and benefit from extra footfall around Stirling.

“The Lantern Parade is also a fantastic opportunity to bring extra people into Stirling and help the city’s retailers thrive.

“It will be a great night for the city and I’m looking forward to seeing the Go Forth Landtrain all dressed up for Halloween!”

Maps for the trail will be available in the Thistles and at the Arcade, where post boxes will also be placed for completed entries.

A winner from completed entries will be drawn at random to receive the iPad.