If you're looking for a place to go pumpkin picking this year as Halloween fast approaches, look no further - the popular pumpkin patch is open again at Hurley's Christmas Tree and Pumpkin Farm in Battlesbridge.

The farm is welcoming residents to its patch for lots of rustic family fun, and is open for the rest of October.

There are thousands of lovely pumpkins, squashes and gourds to choose from - and even some surprises - in preparation for Halloween.

You must book tickets to access the site, which you can do here.

There are limited extra weekend tickets available for this weekend (23 and 24 October), and general weekday availability remains for half-term up to and including Halloween (25 to 31 October).

Early bird special tickets are £5 each for a family of up to seven people.

You can find Hurley's Farm on Woodham Road in Battlesbridge, Wickford.

Residents are also encouraged to enter the Halloween raffle being held by the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Charity Shop on Burnham-on-Crouch High Street.

The shop, at 50 Station Road, is holding the raffle after one of its customers donated a huge homegrown pumpkin to the store.

The lucky raffle winner will be able to take the giant pumpkin home just in time for Halloween.

Raffle tickets cost £1 each and can be bought at the shop - find out more here.

Cobbs Farm, based just outside Maldon, also opens today (Friday 22 October) to pumpkin pickers - click here for more details.