Fans of Halloween can get a jump-start on prepping their Halloween lanterns after one North Yorkshire farm began harvesting their crop.

Spilman’s Pumpkin Farm, near Thirsk, has grown some 20,000 pumpkins and squashes of all different shapes and sizes, which are traditionally linked with Halloween on October 31.

Tom Spilman harvest his crop at his farm near Thirsk in North Yorkshire
Tom Spilman harvests his crop at his farm near Thirsk in North Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)
Pumpkin harvest
More than 20,000 pumpkins and squashes have been grown (Danny Lawson/PA)
Pumpkin harvest
It is believed the custom of carving pumpkins for Halloween originated in Ireland (Danny Lawson/PA)
Pumpkin harvest
The grotesque faces carved were thought to ward off evil spirits on All Hallows’ Eve (Danny Lawson/PA)
Pumpkin harvest
The Christian festival falls on October 31 before All Saints’ Day on November 1 (Danny Lawson/PA)
Pumpkin harvest
In some parts of the UK turnips are the preferred vegetable for keen carvers (Danny Lawson/PA)