Residents at a local care home have shown off their creative side by fashioning a scarecrow of the popular children's show character Bob the Builder.

Can he fix it? Staff and residents at Abbeyfield House's sheltered housing scheme in Beaminster certainly believe that he can as they set him to 'work' repairing the wall of the house shortly after stuffing him full of straw.

The hard-hatted scarecrow was created as part of the Abbeyfield Society's Scarecrow Challenge that the housing charity has been running across its 300-plus care homes, sheltered housing schemes and independent living complexes across the UK. The challenge is for residents to create the most imaginative scarecrow they possibly can.

Anna Boyes, Abbeyfield’s Director of Marketing, said: “We wanted to devise an autumnal competition that allowed our talented staff and residents to show a bit of creative flair.

“The scarecrows help to put our houses and homes on the map and will hopefully become a quirky feature that will attract the attention of passers-by. As the weather grows colder, the scarecrows will serve as a reminder of the warm, friendly environment that Abbeyfield provides.”

Staff and residents have largely welcomed the opportunity to open their doors and gardens once again to visitors following Covid restrictions and said that they enjoyed the fact that the Scarecrow Challenge allowed them to use their imagination and draw on their creativity.

The aim of attracting the attention of the local communities around its houses and homes is not a new one for Abbeyfield. Staff, residents, and volunteers routinely put on events and activities that welcome in people from the local neighbourhood, as seen by the Platinum Jubilee parties held in June and year-round open days, fêtes and coffee mornings.

Anna Boyes added: “Abbeyfield provides the perfect solution to the accommodation and support needs of over-55s, whilst enabling them to maintain as much independence in later life as they wish. Through our values of community and companionship, we strive to help alleviate the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can be quite prevalent amongst the older population, particularly over the winter months.”