HILMARTON'S scarecrows have started to take shape for the village's fifth scarecrow trail following a community workshop over the weekend.

Dozens of families got to grips with the bales of straw to create the skeleton of their Best of British-themed scarecrows at the workshop, held at the Community Room on Saturday, ready for the festival next month and organiser Natalie Doust said it was a roaring success.

"It was a really fun morning and all the community came together to build their scarecrows and there was straw everywhere. We have gone for the theme Best of British this year because we thought it was quite apt at the moment.

"It was quite intriguing walking around because a lot of people just build a basic scarecrow and then they go home with them to decorate them, so you don't actually know what they are going to be."

As well as providing financial support to Hilmarton Primary School, St Laurence Church and other small community groups, the festival will also raise money for the Teenager and Young Adult Cancer Care Team at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

She added: "We decided to do something different this year and at one of the committee meetings in The Duke I suggested we do a naked calendar and everyone's eyes went and we decided to go for it. We have gone for a real mix of young and old but it will be on sale during the festival."

Anyone wishing to take part in the trail should head for the school hall from 10am-4pm on May 13 and May 14, while tickets for the festival at The Duke on Saturday, which include a Beatles tribute band and food, will cost £15.