WEIRD and wonderful creations will be popping up across Blackrod as the village holds its annual scarecrow festival.

The event will be held over Saturday and Sunday as members of the community show off their displays.

The festival is marking its 11th year and so far there have been 111 official entries but there are expected to be many more residents putting up colourful figures in their gardens.

Jean Hibbert, event organiser, said: “We have a lot of small community events that go on around the village but I think that it is the only big community thing that we do where everyone gets involved. It’s a great community event.

“There are lots of little things but this one really shows off what goes on in Blackrod. For example, the village’s neighbourhood plan and that will be on display.

“Even the schools are getting their stuff ready for what they are making. It has sort of become part of the local curriculum.

“I am looking forward to it. It has been a hectic last week but we are pretty much there. It is just a case now of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

The community centre will be open during the event and there will be displays showing the work of the Terraced Gardens at Rivington as well as an update on Blackrod’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Programmes will be available at £2 and it will show all the locations of the scarecrows, a map of the trail and a free ticket for the raffle, the first prize in which will be £100.

Proceeds from programme sales will go towards the running costs of the festival and projects supported within the village.

Some of the money raised last year was spent on a ball machine at Blackrod Cricket Club, which has been used by Blackrod Junior Cricket teams for their winter nets practices.

The programmes are available now from St Katharine’s Church and shops within Blackrod.

They will be available from three stands throughout Blackrod Village during the weekend.

For more information on the festival, contact Mrs Hibbert on 01204 691575.