THE successes of this year’s Kearsley Scarecrow Festival were celebrated at a winners award ceremony.

With entries up on last year, the festival has grown in popularity, making the competition even tougher for those vying for a prize.

Taking to the streets to judge this year were Great British Bake Off contestant Lee Banfield, Miss North West, Christina Cunningham and Bolton FM’s Andrew Woodend.

Festival organiser, Stephen Tonge, said: “Last year we had fewer entries but more scarecrows and this year we had 173 entries, which is more than last time so it has been fantastic.

“It was really hard to judge a winner because there was so many good scarecrows.

“There were some fantastic creations o the shortlist but at the end of the day you have got got to pick one!”

Due to the high number of entries, judges picked a shortlist of contenders from photographs taken by a band of volunteers of all the scarecrows on display.

They then went out to see then in the flesh - or straw - and chose a favourite in a residents, businesses and schools category.

Coming top of the crops was the residents of Walker Close, St Saviours Primary School and Shoreside Stables who created a full 90th Birthday party for the Queen with the Royal Family.

Stables owner Helen Owen collected the winning trophy with 16-year-old nephew Max Hugo.

She said: “Everyone from the stables got involved and we raised money for charity at the weekend with cakes and tea, raising £1,700 which we will split between the local hospices and the festival.

“It’s an amazing event, Kearsley has a real community spirit and the organisers do a fantastic job.

“We are absolutely thrilled to win and have big plans for next year!”

This year organisers also ran a photography competition with a winners to be announced.

Proceeds over the weekend will be put back into the community.

Mr Tonge added: “It has been pretty hard work building it up, we started in May.

“Next year we hope to see the main roads filled with scarecrows and help make it an even bigger attraction.”