AN Andover housing development be redeveloped held its first community event.

The newly-formed Augusta Park Community Association (APCA), based at the temporary community centre in the new development, hosted a Hallowe’en evening for residents.

More than 150 people braved the wind and rain on Wednesday, 31 October, to join in with pumpkin carving and fancy dress competitions, apple bobbing, a lucky dip and raffle all accompanied by spooky music and fuelled by burgers, hot dogs and soup.

Chairman Stuart Armstrong said: “It has been great to see so many of our neighbours attend the event.

“This has been an excellent opportunity to start the community association off with a bang, and for us to find out what fellow residents want to get involved in.”

APCA trustee Paul Blake said: “We’re just ordinary residents who’d love to see an active and friendly community grow out of this huge development.

We’ve got an opportunity to do something special at Augusta Park and our message to our neighbours is it’s your Augusta Park, get involved!”

The party was made possible by the support of Sentinel Housing Association and Taylor Wimpey, which provided most of the funding.

Sainsbury’s, in Enham Arch, also helped with the catering.

Sainsbury’s store manager Andy Meechan and HR manager Coral Courtnell selected their favourite scary pumpkin – designed by Marie Dyer – from more than 60 entries.

All the pumpkins were provided free to the residents by APCA thanks to the generous support of Test Valley Borough Council and Kenyon’s Farm Shop.

Mr Armstrong said: “We wanted to make our first event free to our fellow residents to show them how great it is to be part of a community. As more people get involved we can turn our attention to fundraising.”

The fancy dress competition for Augusta Park’s trick-or-treaters, with more than 50 entrants, was judged by Councillor Alex Brooks and Louisa Rice, from Test Valley Borough Council.