SCARECROWS dressed up as everything from Noddy to Ozzy Osbourne took their positions in gardens across Waddington for the village's May Day festival.

Up to 60 straw characters appeared in gardens and church grounds and around nine more were installed in the school grounds.

They included Humpty Dumpty, pirates, a bride and groom and a teddy bears' picnic.

The weekend entertainment began with the launch of the flower festival and a musical evening in St Helen's Church.

A 60s, 70s and 80s disco was held on the Croft recreation ground on Saturday night, followed by a car boot sale, picnic and music by the Slaidburn Silver Band yesterday.

The crowning of the May Queen and the Maypole dancing was due to take place today on the Croft.

The festival was mainly organised by the St Helen's Church social committee, with help from villagers, with most of the proceeds going to the church fund.

Helen Chew, from the social committee, said: "We came up with the idea of the scarecrow event during the foot and mouth crisis because we couldn't use the Croft as we would normally. It's just grown and grown since then.

"There was varied selection of scarecrows stretching about half a mile through Waddington."