MELLOR Village is holding its first scarecrow festival this weekend.

The Ribble Valley hamlet has been inundated with entries. A target of 20 was set but more than 60 people and groups have started to make their own scarecrows.

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People have paid £5 entry — and on Sunday, maps will be available to buy from the village hall from 11am to help guests as they wander along the route.

The exhibits will be on display from 3pm until 8pm, with a prizegiving ceremony at 4pm at the village hall.

There will be three prizes — for the under-12s, the most original scarecrow by an over-12, and the best creation by businesses and organisations.

Rita Gorman is contributing two scarecrows.

She said: “Mine is Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.

“It is wearing the bridesmaid dress that one of my daughters, Jennifer, wore for the wedding of my other daughter Elizabeth 29 years ago in 1986.

“We do not throw anything away.

“My sister and I are also doing another scarecrow at the church.

“David Holroyd is a caretaker at Balderstone School and Barbara Lucas is a farmer’s wife — we must all be short of something to do.”

All money raised will be donated to The Free Project CIC to help the homeless and those living in inadequate accommodation in Blackburn.

The project offers a safe place for the building of trusting, supportive and non-judgemental relationships with homeless people and those living in temporary or inadequate accommodation within Blackburn with Darwen.

Last month, organisers held a sleepout in Blackburn to bring the issues of homelessness and inadequate accommodation into the public eye as well as raising funds for the project. There were no tents or toilet facilities, and the event was filmed by television crews.