CHARITY fundraisers have been forced to cancel a Weldmar Hospicecare Trust Hallowe’en event due to low ticket sales.

The Trick or Treat Family Twilight Walk and Hallowe’en Party was due to be held on Saturday.

Sue Leighton, major events fundraising manager at Weldmar, said the event was cancelled due to poor ticket sales and because there are too many rival seasonal events.

She added: “We haven’t had a good response from the public to buying tickets and there seems to be too much other stuff going on and a lot of them are free events.

“The financial climate is definitely a factor.”

The two-mile Twilight Walk was due to start at 7pm on Saturday.

Walkers were asked to come in fancy dress and to raise as much sponsorship money for Weldmar as possible.

Tickets were priced at £5 for adults, £2.50 for 12 to 16-year-olds and free for under 12s and included the party with a free disco.

Mrs Leighton added: “It’s unfortunate that we’ve had to cancel it. We thought that people would be quite excited about it.

“This was the worst response we’ve had to a fundraiser in a long time.”

Staff at Weldmar are now hoping that people support them for a two mile Family Santa Fun Run on December 11 at 11am from Dorchester Town Football Club.

Registration costs £10 for adults, £5 for children and is free for under fives.

Call 01305 215320 for more information or visit www.weld-hospice.co.uk