THERE was no clutching at straws for the organisers of this year’s Blackrod Scarecrow Festival as more people took part in the two-day event than ever before.

Scores of scarecrows – and about 8,000 eager scarecrow-hunters – swamped Blackrod over the weekend.

This year's ninth annual festival brought out a record number of scarecrows, with 131 officially registered, while more popped up just before the event began.

Organiser Jean Hibbert said residents' ideas for models “just keep getting better and better”.

She said: “At the first Blackrod Scarecrow Festival nine years ago, we had 58 scarecrows, so the numbers have doubled since then.

“There has been a great atmosphere in Blackrod over the weekend – this is something which really helps put the village on the map.

“It has been great to see how much effort everyone has put into making their creations, and all the scarecrows look fantastic.”

The festival was launched by the St Katharine’s Church events committee and is supported by the village's businesses, Blackrod Methodist Church, the two primary schools and members of the local community.

Drawing the crowds were a reconstruction of the 1914 truce during World War One, in Vause Avenue; a Spiderman, complete with web, on the roof of a house in Ainse Road; and a scarecrow Jeremy Clarkson redeemed as Top Gear presenter, in Vicarage Road.

Teacher Jillian McNab used to live in Horwich and brought her family to the festival despite having now moved to Blackpool.

She said: “We came back to see the scarecrows as we have been coming for years and always have a really good day – the children love it.

“It is a great atmosphere and lots of people get involved which is a really nice community thing.”

For three-year-old Lucy Williams, from Whelley in Wigan, it was her first time at the festival.

She said: “My favourite was a scarecrow riding a bike, because he was funny.”

Five-year-old Teegan Lord, from Chorley, was visiting the festival with her grandparents Sylvia and George Harrod.

The youngster said: “My favourite scarecrow was the pirate because I like pirates and I am doing a project about pirates at school.”

Mr Harrod, aged 78, was born in Blackrod and now also lives in Chorley.

He added: “We have never been before, this is our first time, but it is such a wonderful idea.”

See more of the scarecrow creations here.