Fears that Hallowe’en falling on a Friday could lead to mayhem in Wallingford town centre were unfounded.

Patrols by police and local councillors — armed with chocolate bars to enhance a softly, softly approach — kept everything calm and in order.

Wallingford police said everything passed off quietly and the patrols had been very effective. Wallingford MP Ed Vaizey took to the streets of the town with the head of Wallingford School Wyll Willis to back up local people.

They patrolled the street and the parks of the town chatting to young people and persuading them that bad behaviour was unacceptable.

With Mayor Alec Hayton they split into early and late evening patrols in constant contact with police officers and Police Community Support Officers. The patrols were started five years ago after a Hallowe’en of total mayhem when flour and eggs were thrown at people, buildings and cars.

Patrols organiser Lynda Atkins said: “That particular Hallowe’en was horrendous with people and buildings being pelted. After it, we felt as a town council we should be on patrol, not as vigilantes, but as ordinary people concerned about what was happening. There have been incidents since — some people have been hit with eggs and there have been some flour attacks but everything has calmed down to the level of this year when there were no incidents at all that we heard of. None of us wanted to spoil anyone’s fun but we didn’t want a repeat of the problems of previous years.

“Some youngsters threw eggs at each other on the Kinecroft but we felt that was OK as long as they didn’t throw things at anyone else.”

She said she was pleased that local shops had co-operated in not letting youngsters get their hands on eggs and flour.

Ms Atkins said: “This involves the whole community ad we were delighted with that strength of support. Hallowe’en can be a fun time and we wanted to make sure people had fun without harming others.”

Sgt Fraser Weller for Wallingford police said on the whole, the patrol system worked well, and there were no major problems. He said: “Hallowe’en ran extremely effectively.

“We did issue a fixed penalty notice to someone who bought alcohol for an underage person, but other than that there were no issues of concern.

“The local neighbourhood team visited each of the primary schools in the area to speak to the pupils, offering advice on how to stay safe and the consequences of misbehaving. I would like to thank the schools for allowing us to do this.”

On the streets in Wallingford people said the evening had gone without problems. Hazel Jeans, 45, of St John’s Road, said: “I heard nothing at all — everything was very quiet.”

Pensioner John Alders, 71, of Croft Road, said: “I try to stay clear of the town on Hallowe’en but on this occasion I had to go out and was very pleasantly surprised that there was no trouble. “The patrols seem to work well.”

Many councillors had been worried that Hallowe’en fell on the Friday evening, but Ms Atkins said members of the patrols had never felt intimidated.