AN animal rescue charity is reminding people to dispose of their Halloween pumpkins properly.

It’s that time of year again and ELM Wildlife is reminding people not to throw away their pumpkins in the woods.

‘Please do not put pumpkins on the ground for hedgehogs to eat’ a spokesperson for the charity said.

‘Pumpkin acts as a laxative and will cause serious diarrhoea and dehydration in hedgehogs.

‘At this time of year it is vital that hedgehogs put on as much weight as possible to give them the best chance of surviving winter and hibernation’ the spokesperson added.