THIS eye-catching mural is expected to draw thousands of visitors this Halloween.

More than 1,500 pumpkins, gourds and squashes of all varieties were used to create the Snakes and Ladders design.

The giant mural was created by land artist and sculptor Mark Ward and took about ten days to set up the 20ft by 14ft display.

It can be found at Slindon Pumpkins near Arundel, which is due to have large crowds of visitors ahead of Halloween on Tuesday.

A different mural with a different theme is put up every year and has given Slindon the unofficial title of pumpkin capital of the UK.

A different charity is chosen each year to benefit from donations and this time it is the Coastal West Sussex branch of the mental health charity Mind.

Slindon Pumpkins owner Robin Upton, 71, said the popular display had been going for years.

He said: “It was all started off by my father when he opened the farm in 1968 and we have kept the tradition going.

“It has become a real talking point and people love to visit to see what we have come up with this time.

“It has become really popular.

“We were a little later than usual in setting it up because bad weather delayed the pumpkin season but we are ready to go now.”

Among the designs considered for this year were the Halnaker Windmill, a cockerel and the Hey Diddle Diddle nursery rhyme.

In the end the team opted for the popular board game snakes and ladders, complete with dice.

Mr Upton said:”We always have various ideas on what the theme would be and while we were trying to think about it the idea of the snakes and ladders formed.”

There has been an big increase in demand for pumpkins in recent years which is put down to the influence of the US, where Halloween is a big celebration.

Mind is an independent charity operating in West Sussex.

Its work is driven by the needs and experiences of people with a mental health problem.

Help includes providing information and support to anyone experiencing mental health issues.

The charity also campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

It works with young people, adults, older adults, carers and families.

The charity’s main intention is for people have control of their lives and be as independent as possible.