It was almost twilight on a cold autumn’s evening on Belfast’s Shankill Road - and it was time.  Time for the vampires to come out to play.  There were three of them and their mission was clear - to invert the traditional practice of trick or treating and spread a bit of hope in west Belfast.

They liked to call it ‘reverse trick or treating’ or maybe even ‘treat or treating’.  But whatever label you give it the group’s idea was to turn up at their neighbours’ homes and instead of demanding sweets or money, hand out free gifts.

People simply could not believe their eyes, as the fancy-dress clad men showed up at their houses, handing out sweets and treats.  Their shock was further compounded by the fact that they weren’t expected to give anything back in return.

The kids of the area were confused at first - but once they found out that their trick or treat patch was not being muscled in on they seemed to quite like this novel idea.

And the chance to have their photo taken with a real live vampire at their very own front-door only served to get them on board wtih this example of reverse and very hopeful psychology.