SCARECROWS have taken over two Wiltshire villages as they stage festivals for the corny characters.

In Kington Langley, residents surpassed themselves at the weekend in the village's second annual Scarecrow Weekend.

Based on a royal theme, the weekend was a huge success with 62 households entering a number of zany scarecrows in a closely fought competition for the best straw figure.

One of the organisers, Elizabeth Coles, said that despite the unsettled weather the event had been very successful.

"It was a very good weekend and very busy in the village. We were pleased with the numbers of people who entered scarecrows and we think we must have raised over £200," she said.

The 62 scarecrows ranged from kings and queens to guards on duty.

Top of the crop was the entry by Steve and Liz Howe, with Elvis, King of Pop. Second were Sandie and Mike Wilson with the Queen of Hearts.

The people's prize went to the creators of Caf Royal, the Watkin and Gilman family. They built straw figures of the Queen and Prince Charles drinking cups of tea.

Four entries won highly commended prizes for their makers, including nine straw and hay figures made by pupils at Langley Fitzurse School. "Everyone appeared to have fun and made a real effort. We sold 170 programmes at £1 each and those who entered had to pay £1. We also sold refreshments and are now busy totting up what we made," said Mrs Coles.

Any money raised by the weekend will go towards the village's jubilee celebrations and anything left over will be donated to village organisations.

"We are very pleased with the event and hope to organise our third scarecrow weekend next year," said Mrs Coles.

Meanwhile, pupils at Urchfont Primary School have been recruited to use their artistic ability to promote the village's popular scarecrow festival, due to take place this weekend.

Villager John Blunden is running an art exhibition at the church in tandem with this year's event, and has invited people in the area to contribute a piece of work for it.

He has also obtained sponsorship to run an art competition for children at the school and last week pupils were busy turning out paintings featuring scarecrows that they would like to see on display during the festival, which has been running annually since 1997.

Visitors are invited to follow the scarecrow trail on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, leaving from the pond where, for £1, they will be able to pick up a programme guiding them around the village where they will encounter characters from children's literature and TV.

Jane Steadman, who is organising the event with a small band of helpers, said: "The clues range from the simple to the cryptic, so it's not as easy as it sounds, although in the past all age groups have been mutually supportive, even the tiniest, who can run ahead and locate the next scarecrow."

Refreshments on offer include barbecue food as well as ice-cream, tea, coffee and home-baked cakes.

A plant sale is an additional attraction, being run by the village gardening club.