PREPARATIONS are underway for this weekend's annual scarecrow festival in Kington Langley as the village will be turned into a book lovers paradise.

This year celebrates the 18th year the festival has been held, and families will be able to wander around the village and come across 88 scarecrows, dressed to fit the theme of books.

As well as the scarecrow trail, festival goers will be able to enjoy live music from local bands and artists, take part in storytellers and craft skills workshops, have a wander around craft stalls and enjoy locally sourced food and drink.

To prepare for the trail, the congregation of St Peter's Church have held workshops to build 17 scarecrows which will show off the books of the bible, and the Festival committee hope that the huge community effort will raise £10,000 for charity, and hopes at least £2,500 will go towards Thrombosis UK.

It has been the charity chosen to receive the Elizabeth Coles Award, named after the founder of the Festival as committee member Keri Allan suffered a life-altering blood clot which left her with post-thrombotic syndrome.

She said: "This is a great organisation to support, as well as helping thrombosis sufferers and their families, the charity helps bring together people in similar positions.

"It also continues to work hard to educate people about the risks and symptoms of venous thromboembolism in all its forms, as well as push for further conditions like my own."

Money raised through the festival will also go towards local charities and community groups within the village.

The trail will also feature a children's trail, and Disney Princesses from Scarlett Princess Parties in Bath will be around to entertain the kids.

Committee member and trail manager Liz Howe, said: "There are some really good scarecrows.

"The trail is probably a mile through the village and all the scarecrows are really close together, so in most cases you can see the next scarecrow only a few meters away.

"We are hoping for a lovely day. We have had the most wonderful weather recently but people will still come out in their kagoules.

"I think it is going to be a really exciting event this year."

The Kington Langley Scarecrow Festival is take place around Kington Langley Village this weekend (June 16 and 17). Trail maps can be picked up from opposite St Peter's Church, Church Lane for £3.50.