CHARACTERS from popular children’s books lined the streets of Derry Hill for the village’s first annual scarecrow trail at the weekend.

Organised by charity-run preschool Rub-A-Dub, villagers got creative as they made everything from The Tiger who Came to Tea and The Gruffalo, to Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and Charlie from the Chocolate Factory.

More than £1,500 was raised for the pre-school, based in Lansdowne Hall, with the money going towards its running and resources for the children.

There was fun for all as families could make their way around the village, guessing what all 24 scarecrows were, treat themselves to some homemade cakes, bouncing on a bouncy castle and getting their faces painted.

Fundraising co-ordinator at Rub-A-Dub, Nicola Heath, was delighted with how well the town’s first scarecrow trail went.

“It was really good,” she explained. “We have had great feedback from everyone saying how much they enjoyed it.

“We had a raffle on the day and a cake sale which both did really well.

“There was a great turnout – we sold 144 trail sheets and saw quite a lot of people in the village.

“The scarecrows were amazing, and a lot of hard work goes into it. I’m happy it all went really well.

“It’s going to become an annual thing, and we are hoping to keep the theme each year as something that children can get involved in, as sometimes there are scarecrow trails that are a bit too difficult for children.

“There were quite a few people who came down from Calne and Chippenham.

“We are really pleased that people from outside of our little community were getting involved. It was lovely to see people making their way around the village.

“We have raised £1,511.79 and we are so pleased with that. Our little nursery can do a whole load of things with it.”