SCORES of scarecrows took over a village to help a church celebrate its 150th anniversary.

St Thomas Church, Musbury, in Helmshore, held a scarecrow trail all around the village, when hundreds of people picked up a map and took to the streets to find them.

Cricketers, window cleaners, a female version of the Vicar, the Rev 'Norma' Price and even the Milk Tray man appeared on houses, the church, in shop windows and at Helmshore Textile Museums.

The event was one of a host of activities for the church's sesquicentenary and vicar, the Rev Norman Price, said he was delighted with the trail, which took more than an hour and a half to judge by car!

First prize went to the Green family, created by Carol and Fred Barlow, of Curven Edge, Helmshore, second was the Rev 'Norma' Price, from the Moran family, in Helmshore Road and third was a colourful scarecrow at Musbury Fabrics. On Saturday, Rose Queen Rachel Garlick, a student at Haslingden High School, was crowned by the Mayoress of Rossendale, Mrs Janet Eaton.

The church had a procession of witness though the village on Sunday and an anniversary dinner will be held tomorrow.

From Saturday to July 3 there is a flower festival in the church and a Victorian evensong and parade on Sunday.

The congregation, in Victorian outfits, will leave the vicar's house at 4pm for a parade through the village, before a Victorian Tea Party and evensong at 6pm by candlelight and with a wind band playing.

On July 3 the final event will see a festival Eucharist, when the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, will preach.