AN unexpected character paid a visit to Darcy Lever at the weekend.

Anyone walking through the village on Saturday got the unique opportunity to pose up with the Queen and one of her loyal corgi companions.

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However, Her Majesty may have seem a little stumped to be posing up alongside her opportunist visitors.

Of course that was down to this particular Queenie being made of straw.

Her highness and pooch side-kick were just one of the scarecrows on display as part of the Darcy Lever Village Fair and Scarecrow Festival.

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The festival is in its second year and is organised by a team from St Stephen and All Martyrs' Church and school, in Radcliffe Road.

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There were around 35 straw effigies taking over the village, including Star Wars-inspired 'Straw Wars' scene and Worzel Gummidge with Aunt Sally.

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Judges took to the streets to judge their favourite, with a Beatrix Potter scene taking the top prize.

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Resident Connie Smethurst said: "It was a fantastic day.

"There were lots of ideas and hard work gone into it with some very simple ideas to more elaborate creations."

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Visitors could also attend a village fair where there was stalls, games and entertainment throughout the day.