THE population of Charminster and Charlton Down will be swelled by an influx of scarecrows in the coming weeks.

The two villages are holding their first ever scarecrow competition and are encouraging local families to show off their creative side and take part.

The competition has been organised by the local parish council and youngsters at St Mary’s School in Charminster have already been busy perfecting their entries to the competition.

Parish clerk Sarah Davies said: “Lots of other villages in Dorset have scarecrow competitions and we thought it would be a nice thing to do.

“We are also trying to improve links between the school and the parish council and it was something we thought all families could enjoy doing together.

“Hopefully, it will become an annual event.”

Headteacher at St Mary’s School Ian Donnelly said each class made a scarecrow as part of their Arts Week.

He said: “We did it around the Wizard Of Oz theme.”

Entries for the scarecrow competition need to be confirmed by Friday and scarecrows should be placed outside homes until August 14.

Judging will take place between August 2 and August 7.

An entry form for the competition is available in the latest edition of the local parish magazine The Pilot.

Anyone wishing to take part can contact Mrs Davies on 01305 263342 or email clerk.charminster@tiscali.co.uk so the judges know to check out your scarecrow.