Frightfully good carving: Pumpkins are transformed into glowing masterpieces by professional sculptors in time for Halloween

Ray Villafane and his team meticulously shaped the terrifying characters using spoons and scalpels
Each one takes on average two hours to complete with the horrifying results
Mr Villafane has become something of a celebrity in the U.S. appearing on television shows with his creations

Carving a pumpkin at Halloween can be tricky.
But these masterpieces created by professional sculptors are enough to give anyone a fright.
Ray Villafane and his team meticulously shaped the terrifying characters using spoons and scalpels

Terrifying: Sculptor Ray Villafane and his team meticulously shaped the terrifying characters using spoons and scalpels
Each one takes on average two hours to complete - with the horrifying results netting Villafane, plus colleagues Andy Bergholtz and Chris Vierra, numerous TV appearances each Halloween.
This year the team has gone global travelling to Germany, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
 
Mr Villafane, 44, based in Bellaire, Michigan, U.S., said: 'You need to pick the meatiest pumpkin. Not all of them will look good. The most important aspect is the weight.
'I also like a pumpkin with character. one with nobly ridges is good, so that I can utilise that in the carving procedure, like sculpting noses.

Two of Mr Villafane's creations including one of Johnny Depp in the film Dark Shadows. The pumpkins receive huge media attention every year