FAMILIES are being invited to get creative and come up with wacky and wonderful creations for Darcy Lever's first scarecrow festival.

A team from St Stephen and All Martyrs' Church, Radcliffe Road, is organising the event to take place from Saturday, June 13, with a nursery rhyme theme.

Mother-of-two Marilyn Spirzaker, aged 69, from Darcy Lever, said: "As far as we know it's the first here.

"We have these ideas when we're talking.

"We did go and have a look at the Blackrod one.

"We've been talking about doing it for a couple of years.

"We just though let's get the community involved and see if we can get one going.

"We are just keeping it down to a smaller area for the first time and see how it goes.

"Hopefully next time, if it goes well, we can widen it."

The festival will see scarecrows displayed in an area taking in a section of Darcy Lever, as well as the Haulgh.

People will be urged to display them in their front gardens, from part way along Bromwich Street, the Haulgh, to about a mile away in Hacken Lane, Darcy Lever.

Entry forms are available from Nawaz Newsagent, Wheatfield Street, or St Stephen and All Martyrs' School.

Grandmother-of-five Mrs Spirzaker, along with co-organiser Lynne Cross and churchgoers have handed out 1,000 forms in the area and at the school.

They are hoping to attract about 100 scarecrows and to make the festival a biannual event, alternating with the church's Christmas tree festival.

People who do not live in the area but want to take part can make a scarecrow to be displayed at the school and there will be an overall prize for the best.

Entry forms need to be completed and returned to the newsagent or post box in the school porch by Saturday.

The Scarecrow Festival will launch on Saturday, June 13, the day of the village fair, on from 11am until 1pm.