IT WAS a happy hot Halloween as ghosts and ghouls sweated it out on the warmest October 31 on record.

Gloves and scarves were discarded as Dorset bathed in warm sunshine, a bonus for families on the last weekday of half-term holidays.

The national record for the warmest Halloween of 20C (68F) set at Dartford in Kent in 1968 was beaten before noon when the temperature reached 20.5C (68.9F) in Filton, Bristol, the Met Office said.

Similar temperatures were being experienced closer to home where in direct sunshine it was well above 20C.

Dorset Live Weather recorded a temperature of 25.3 degrees at midday.

So far, 2014 is the warmest year on record for the UK, following consistently mild temperatures which have continued into autumn, weather forecaster Meteo-Group said.

Weymouth weatherman Bob Poots said it had been an ‘up and down’ month with a mixture of rain and sunshine. Mr Poots said: “The second half of the month we’ve seen higher temperatures with the highest recorded on Tuesday of this week of 18.9 degrees.

“It’s very unusual for Halloween to get this kind of weather. I’ve been sweating buckets out in the garden. Having said that we’ve had a lot of rain this month – already we’ve had 130mm which is 50 per cent up on the average amount.”

Fulvio Figliolini, owner of Rossi’s Ice Cream on Weymouth Esplanade, was serving ice creams to families yesterday and said: “The weather is phenomenal. I’ve not known a Halloween like it.”

The sunny weather is expected to continue today but it won’t be as warm with highs of around 15C. Temperatures are set to drop next week to 12C which is closer to the seasonal average.

A very freaky Friday GHOULS, ghosts, witches, wizards, zombies – and even a dog dressed as a pumpkin – were out to enjoy the fun and the sunshine at Freaky Friday events, part of the Freaky Streets initiative organised by Weymouth BID.

There were skateboard displays, face painting and a balloon artist making scary creations, as well as the Freaky Streets trail around town. The winner was Steven May Hair Design but the Black Dog pub came second and was named Spookiest Den in Town.

Shops had decorated their windows in a bid to win the coveted Freaky Streets best window trophy, specially made by R & B Trophies, of a glass cauldron, broom, black cat and pumpkin.

Weymouth BID president Nigel Reed said they had experienced a wonderful response from people and that shops had really got into the spirit of the event.

He said: “It’s been really good. Freaky Streets really seems to have caught people’s imagination and the shops have made a real effort.”

Mr Reed added: “We are hoping it will grow next year and make Weymouth a place you go for Halloween.”

Kerry Steel came into town with her son Alfie, three, dressed as a skeleton.