Thousands set to visit Pattingham's Scarecrow Festival
Scarecrows will lurk on roofs and peer across gardens when they takeover a village during bi-annual festivities.
Villagers in Pattingham are putting the finishing touches to their fourth Scarecrow Festival as they prepare to welcome thousands into their community.
More than 150 scarecrows, designed by families in the village, will steal the spotlight when the three-day festival makes its return on Friday, September 22.
Committee member Mike Coope, who has lived in the village for more than 50 years, said: "This year we have got a record number of scarecrows.
"The village just comes alive and it buzzes. People walking around with smiles on their faces, it's just a beautiful event."
Organisers behind the festival, which first took place in 2011, are expecting between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors will travel from far and wide to admire the scarecrows.
Three scarecrow trails will take visitors from the Village Hall on a hunt across the area, while a raffle and refreshments will be on offer.
Youngsters will also have the chance to grab one of 1,000 scarecrow badges specially drafted in for participants of the festival's scarecrow quiz.
Mr Coope said evening entertainment will include a Harvest Supper on Friday, a folk night the following day, along with a special Harvest Evensong on Sunday.
The 75-year-old said: "It's the spirit of community that it brings into the village [that I like]. It's not only village people that come in, people come from miles.
"Pattingham is a particularly vibrant place but this just seems to bring all age groups out as a community. People are talking about it now and they will be talking about it at Christmas.
"They have fun making the scarecrows, they have fun when people come round and view them."
Cash raised will be donated to good causes yet to be revealed but funds are being earmarked for projects at St Chad's Church of England First School in the village.
More than £12,000 was gathered at 2015's festival, with £5,000 being donated to the school for new I.T equipment and the remainder supporting projects at St.Chad's Church.
See pattinghamscarecrowfestival.org
