Hallowe'en is usually a time for trick or treating, dressing up in scary masks, and enjoying ghoulish parties. But this year the borough hosted an entirely different type of get-together, with 200 people witnessing the deflowering of a virgin at a secret venue in Barnet.

David Farrant, president of the British Psychic and Occult Society, is a follower of the Wicca religion, which explores witchcraft. To celebrate All Hallow's Eve, Mr Farrant and his fellow white witches attended what some sections of the tabloid press termed a mass orgy'.

Mr Farrant confirmed the event had taken place, but argued: "I would not call it a mass orgy. It was a gathering of serious occultists. We have a big house at an undisclosed location which we use for our major meetings on Midsummer and Hallowe'en. There must have been getting on for 200 people there. Hallowe'en is an open house and people bring guests.

"Sex does come into it and is an important part of Wicca. A man and a woman were covered with a satin sheet. She has been attending our meetings for about a year and wanted to be initiated at one of our big events."

The group holds regular meetings on a smaller scale where members discuss mysticism, the occult, phenomena and matters of a paranormal nature. Mr Farrant admitted that while last Tuesday's meeting was of a similar serious' nature to those usually held, it did later take the form of a big party where people could get together and meet others'.

Between the Lines was obviously mistaken in thinking witches only rode on broomsticks.