Tips to avoid a spooking from hidden skeletons

The scary season is upon us! But sadly, the biggest Halloween frights we are likely to encounter exist online or around the home. Fear not though - you can avoid a nasty shock if you follow my guide.

- MARTYN JAMES

As we gear up for the party season, you may find yourself becoming increasingly desperate as you try to find the perfect fancy dress outfit or decorations for an event.

But beware the demon drink if you're shopping online.

At this time of year, my inbox gets flooded with enquiries from people who have 'embraced the spirits' and woken up to discover that they'd made some terrible shopping choices online while under the influence.

To my shame, I once received an 8ft inflatable flamingo in the post after an ill-advised late night shopping spree.

This is surprisingly common. A very straitlaced friend of mine confessed to purchasing 50 disco balls and 100 packs of ice lolly moulds after another drink-fuelled night down the online shops.