THANKS to our readers for a fine selection of pumpkin pictures to mark Halloween.

You can see an array of them via this link.

All the entries go forward to the Co-op and hopefully we will have a winner from Thurrock - we will let you know.

However, in real terms everyone was a winner with some spooktacular designs.

Nub News editor Neil Speight wanted to ensure a local prizewinner but was finding it a difficult task until he heard the story of 11-year-old Sophie Firth of Grays.

Sophie, and brother Adam, had helped us in our publicity by showing off their pumpkins. Sophie put hers on display outside her home only for someone to pinch them!

Undeterred she carved some more and for that we decided she deserved a prize!

So this evening Sophie popped along to the Co-op in Socketts Heath where Mr Speight, store supervisor Papia Sarwar and the store's Member Pioneer Claire Mason were on hand to present her with a selection of Halloween goodies.