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A scarecrow with impact made by Jeremy And Heather Sykes which is one of the entries in Landford's scarecrow competition T9334H

SCARECROW mania has hit Landford.

About 80 scarecrows - including models of Britain's most famous, Worzel Gummidge, have appeared at roadsides across village and people are coming from far and wide to see them.

The scarecrows are all part of tomorrow's Autumn Fest in the village, which includes a barbecue, a pram race and many other attractions. Simon and Jackie Terry, of Landford Post Office, have the difficult job of judging the scarecrow competition.

Jackie said: "During last weekend's sunny weather, the village was inundated with people with cameras taking photographs of the scarecrows. It's so pleasing that so many people taking part in the scarecrow competition. They are all really great. It's going to be really, really difficult to pick a winner, because people have put so much time and effort into making the scarecrows."

Landford resident, Barbara Davies, said some of the bird scarers look pretty frightening, particularly after dark. Scarecrows include a man leaning up a lamppost holding a bottle of booze, a horse jumping a fence and the rider falling off, and a welder at work.

"They are brilliant and the whole village is covered with them. It's very frightening at night. I was driving along New Road when I saw this yellow colour and hand sticking out of the hedge.

"It's a scarecrow of a council workman, dressed in this bright-yellow reflective outfit, cutting the hedge. There's another scarecrow of a horse's head sticking up through a hedge and there's three sitting on a seat in Lyndhurst Road. It's really clever the way they have been made," said Barbara.

Lisa Virgo is secretary of the Autumn Fest committee and members of her family have made their versions of the loveable scarecrow, Worzel Gummidge and his girlfriend, Aunt Sally, who were household names in the 1970s and early 1980s, thanks to Southern Television's version of the stories.

Emma Coleman picks up the cuttings from her hedge trimming scarecrow which is one of the entries in Landford's scarecrow competition T9334F

"We've had an amazing response to the scarecrow competition. It's unbelievable. This is the best thing that Landford has ever achieved and it has brought people out of their homes following the tragic episode earlier this month (the murder of OAP, Reginald Baker, at his home in the village). The village has pulled together. We are envied by communities nearby," said Lisa.

Besides the scarecrow competition, tomorrow's Autumn Fest includes a pram race, and a vegetable, produce and craft show. Entry forms for all the competitions are available at Landford Post Office or Landford Stores. The afternoon's events kick off at noon at Landford Village Hall with a wide range of activities, including Landford Primary School's Splat game and various stalls and other games suitable for all age groups.

Lisa added that there would be something for everyone to see and do and she was expecting a large turnout.

8:00am Friday 26th September 2008

Court in the act...This tennis match is by Kerry and Dale Brock T9334C

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