MORE than 1,000 people turned out to admire the displays at this year's Kearsley Scarecrow Festival.

A total of 117 scarecrows were on display throughout Kearsley over the weekend.

One of the organisers from The Kearsley Festival Group, Tracey Wilkinson was extremely happy with the turnout.

She said: "It was amazing. It was a great weekend with a great atmosphere.

"On Saturday, it was a beautiful day and it was absolutely heaving.

"Then on Sunday it lashed it down but we were still busy."

The scarecrows were judged by a three-person panel made up of 11-year-old Hollyoaks actor Erin Palmer, Kearsley councillor Paul Heslop, and funeral director Amy Lilleywhite.

St Saviour's won the school/nursery category with their 'people that help us' display, Spindle Point Farm won the business section with their horse and jockey scarecrow, while the residential category was won by the Sesame Street entry in Mossfield Road.

People attending were also given the chance to vote for the community winner and a Toy Story display in Manchester Road took home the £100 prize.

Mrs Wilkinson said it was the residents that made this year's festival so special.

"What made it this year was residents doing different things.

"One had made cakes for people and one had a barbecue in their front garden for the people going past.

"I think it really give this year's festival an edge on previous years."

There will be a presentation evening at Kearsley Mount Methodist Church, tonight.

The community winner and the winner of the junior and adult photography competition will be presented with their prizes.

A PS4 game console will also be awarded to the person who guessed the amount of balloons in a display by Lilleywhite Funeral Service.

The presentation evening will take place at Kearsley Mount Methodist Church, in Manchester Road. It starts at 7pm.