AN ‘ex-straw-dinary’ array of story book characters have appeared around a village as it holds its annual scarecrow competition.

And if scarecrows lack brains, their creators certainly didn’t, with 29 artistic entries on display around East Hendred, near Didcot.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Jack and the Beanstalk, and four Hungry Caterpillars are among the children’s favourites who will all be dotted around the village until the weekend.

Organiser Val Prior said: “This is the fourth year it has been running, and more and more people have got involved.

“It all started when I was looking around the Internet for a way to make some money for all the good causes for the village.

“This year we have almost double the entries from last year. We have already had 200 people visit the village to do the trail, with all the money going back into the village.”

She added: “The standard has got better and better. It will be a hard one to judge this year. Everyone is so imaginative.

“I make mine with old shirts and pillow cases; other people sew together plastic bags. Everybody has different ideas.

“People become quite protective of them. If it rains, they go out with brollies to put over them.”

Miss Prior said her favourite entries included Cruella De Ville, near the Plough Inn, Fantastic Mr Fox in Cat Street, Wallace and Gromit in White Road, and Miss Havisham, complete with wedding dress and cake, in White Road.

Plough Inn landlord Alan Valentine, who constructed a Bob The Builder scarecrow at his pub, said: “Lots of people come to the village to have a look around.

“I’m always surprised how good some of them are – it gets quite competitive."

Trail sheets showing the scarecrows’ locations are available from Hendred Stores or 65 Coulings Close and cost £1, raising money for St Mary’s and St Augustine’s churches.

The public can vote for their favourite, with a judge picking the final winner.

The top scarecrow will be announced by trail organisers East Hendred Entertains at the family show, being held at East Hendred sports ground in Mill Lane, on Sunday.