A WOMAN who spent her Easter weekend putting smiles on the faces of residents by dressing up as a dinosaur has ‘absolutely no regrets’.

Darwen childminder Samantha Clarkson, 47, dressed up as a dinosaur along with some of her friends and family before visiting Moss Bank Park in Bolton.

Despite having to leave early on Saturday morning after ‘someone phoned the police’ on them, they returned on Easter Sunday in full spirits to continue the fun in a Covid-safe way.

Samantha, who runs Freckles Childminders in Darwen, said: “My family and my friend who is in my social bubble decided to walk through the park dressed as dinosaurs and give the children a little bit of fun.

“We knew there was going to be a lot of people there - so my two sons Harry and Noah came along to help out with encouraging social distancing.”

Samantha says that someone approached one of her sons and asked whether or not they had a permit to be doing what they were doing - and that it became apparent he was going to phone the police.

She added: “We don’t think we were doing anything illegal. It was not an event, it was just a small group of people trying their best to put smiles on people’s faces - I have absolutely no regrets.”

Despite leaving early on Saturday after the altercation, the dinosaurs returned to Moss Bank Park on Sunday morning. Samantha and her husband were prepared to ‘stand their ground’ if something similar happened again.

They also visited a two-year-old at their door in Standish, who was ‘disappointed and upset’ when the dinosaurs left Moss Bank Park, according to Samantha.

At the end of June once restrictions are eased further, Samantha will be organising a dinosaur ‘picnic in the park’ - and she wants as many people as possible to join in the fun.

She added: “We bought these costumes during lockdown and they are one of the best purchases we have ever made.”