WURZEL Gummidge would have been proud of the army of scarecrows that has set up camp in the gardens, fields and hedgerows of a New Forest village.

Mary Poppins and Cruella De Ville, complete with Dalmatians, are among the colourful cast of scarecrows and mannequins lining the highways and byways of Bisterne, which were created by local folk in the run-up to the village's annual fun day at 3pm on Sunday August 22.

There is even a scarecrow in the guise of Bisterne's very own dragon, which slaughtered the villagers' sheep and drank their milk, but came a cropper to medieval derring-do hero Sir Morris Barkley and his dogs.

Treasurer of Bisterne Village Hall committee Jocelyn Gratwick said the scarecrows are very popular and the whole village enters into the spirit of the competition, which has the added lure of a cash prize for the winner.

"We're a scattered community so we have drawn up special maps to show where the scarecrows are," she explained.

"They're very popular among villagers and visitors who come into the village to look at the scarecrows."

It is the second year the village has organised the scarecrow trail and fun day to raise cash for the refurbishment of Bisterne Village Hall.

Mrs Gratwick promised there would be plenty of fun for everyone at the fun day, including children's games, a bouncy castle, jazz band and a well-stocked bar.

First published: August 26