A pre-Halloween warning has been issued that dumping your pumpkins in the woods is bad for wildlife.

Forestry England has issued the appeal after an annual wave of social media posts encouraging the public to leave their used pumpkins for animals to feed on.

The organisation has warned that the gourds can make animals, including the declining population of hedgehogs, very poorly.

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The decomposing pumpkins also attract pests and can spread disease.

Sam Pegler, a senior ecologist, said: "While it’s wonderful that people want to do their bit for nature, leaving rotting pumpkins in the countryside isn’t good for wildlife.

"Some animal centres may accept a small number of pumpkins for their residents, but these are carefully given to appropriate species and removed before they rot down.

"This isn’t possible in a forest setting, so is best avoided completely."

Instead of dumping them in the woods, the organisation has suggested other ways to dispose of the pumpkins.

Mr Pegler said: "My favourite way to use pumpkin is to explore the countless free and tasty recipes online.

"It isn’t all about soup, pumpkin is brilliant for stews, curries, pies, and even pasta and risotto dishes.

"If pumpkin really isn’t your thing, it can be disposed of in your food recycling container or composted at home.

"The high water content of pumpkin makes it a great composting material to add nitrogen and moisture to your compost bin."