A popular scarecrow festival raising money for charity is returning to Blackburn this October.

The Fernhurst and Oakdale Scarecrow Hunt is back again this year with prizes for first, second and third, plus 27 runner up prizes.

The event in Ewood will take place on Saturday, October 28, from 10.30am to 6pm and will have more than 30 scarecrows to find over the estate. 

Laura Leilani, one of the organisers of the event alongside Amy Rhodes, said: "Initially it was just a bit of fun in lockdown, but the year after we realised it was really popular so we ran it from my garden. I had a hundreds of people there!

"Last year we had around 1,200 people at The Benefice of the Redeemer Church in Jack Walker Way.

"It was such a success with a huge amount of people in the community getting involved."

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The winners will be presented with hampers sponsored by local businesses such as Zoe Taylor Dance Academy and B Morris Home Solutions & Extensions.

Laura and Amy are asking local businesses to donate £25 to sponsor the event, which helps them purchase the winning prizes for the hunters and the makers prizes, with any leftover money going to charity. 

This year's chosen charities are the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and East Lancashire Hospice.

Laura continued: "It has taken off because people enjoy it so much, it is such a great event that we do for charity.

"We make three hampers for the winners which will be judged by the Deputy Lieutenant Charles Haddock who represents the King on occasions in the community.

"The runner up prizes will be a goody bag from the money donated from local businesses with vouchers and surprises.

"The left over money will go to charity, and we always choose local charities to help out each year.

"It's such a fantastic day at the church with refreshments and stalls. Everyone gets behind it and the effort that goes into the scarecrows is unreal."

Tickets to take part are available on the day from the church hall at £2.