The 12th annual Harpole Scarecrow Festival attracted an estimated 10,000 visitors this year who were able to look at more than 250 different scarecrows exhibited in residents' front gardens.

The two-day event also featured live entertainment by local bands and musicians as well as numerous gift and refreshment stalls.

Chairman of the organising committee, Sarah Church, said: "Everyone makes there own scarecrow and then puts them out. The atmosphere is really good and it shows Harpole off at its best.

"Some of the designs are knocked up in 10 minutes but others take days to come up with. It gets bigger every year and we have had an amazing turnout.

"Last year we raised £12,500 and we are hoping to raise a slightly more than that this year. All the money does go back to good causes in the village."

Some of the community projects that this years fundraising total will go to include a new tractor for the village playing fields, money for the guides centenary celebrations, camping equipment for the Boys Brigade and new equipment for Harpole School. Funds will also be donated to help build a new kitchen in the old school hall, maintenance and repairs of the church and helping on-going projects at the pre-school.

Resident Julie Malin, who was displaying a Superman on the roof of her house, said: "I get involved every year. It can get a bit crazy in the village. We find if you work it out weeks before what you are going to make it does not work out but my son had a superman outfit so we decided to make a scarecrow like that."

First-time visitor to the festival Andrea Wheeler, of Daventry, said: "It think it is just fantastic how much thought has been put into building all the scarecrows. Some of them are quite comical and have been built with a bit of humour."