IT'S become quite a draw in the six years since villagers in Loders and Uploders thought up the idea to have an annual scarecrow festival.

It's even been featured in national news outlets and villagers have vied with each other to come up with the most creative offerings, not just the scarecrows themselves but where they are placed and what they are doing.

Each years they pick a different theme.

Last year to tie in the with the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations it was Great Britons and they included Tim Peake - hanging off the side of a house, Harry Potter flying up a hedge, David Bowie, David Attenborough, James Bond, Katie Price, the Queen and Emmeline Pankhurst, King Alfred the Great, Celtic queen Boudica, sprinter Leonard Christie, Sir Francis Drake, Mary Anning and Mick Jagger who took a leave of absence and was recovered from Burton Bradstock.

Villagers enjoy it as much as visitors, say organisers Louise Peraux and Rachel Dunn.

This year the theme is book characters and once again competition will be fierce for that first prize, won last year by Alison Saunders' Emily Davidson, complete with horse.

Previous themes have included 'in the garden' with the overall winner of the competition called ‘Eden’ and depicted (a distinctly bashful looking) Adam and Eve.

Previous themes have included poppies and fairytales.

Entries had to be in by last weekend and the festival officially opens on Saturday (May 20) and scarecrows will be on display until June 4.

Entry is £1 and voting forms can be submitted to The Crown Inn, The Loders Arms, The Barns Yondover or Locks Hill, Uploders, or left in the phone boxes in Uploders and Loders.

All votes need to be made by Saturday May 27 with the winners announced at the Crown Inn barbecue on Sunday May 28 at 8pm. As well as the glory there is a cash prize for the winner.