THE FIFTH annual Kearsley Scarecrow Festival will take place this weekend.

This year's festival had been in doubt but a flurry of late entries means there will be 117 scarecrows on the trail.

One of the organisers from The Kearsley Festival Group, Tracey Wilkinson expressed her gratitude to all those who have built scarecrows to be displayed.

She said: "We had a bit of a hiccup this year with entries. At our original closing date we only had 59 entries., which is shocking.

"I felt like giving up but we put an appeal up on Facebook and within a weekend I got another 58 entries. So we have 117 which is great.

"We need everyone to come out and support it, share it, invite people from outside the area because it's about showing off Kearsley."

The two-day event will run from 10am until dusk on both Saturday and Sunday.

On the Sunday, a panel of three judges will judge the best scarecrows.

11-year-old Hollyoaks actor Erin Palmer, Kearsley councillor Paul Heslop, and funeral director Amy Lilleywhite will make up the judging panel.

The scarecrow trails have been split into 8 scarecrow trail maps, which will be available on the day from stalls at the following locations, priced £2: Unity Brook Inn, Tesco Express (Manchester Road), Kearsley Mount Methodist Church, and The Grapes Hotel, Stoneclough.

There will be entertainment, food and refreshments available at various locations on the routes.

Email kearsleyscarecrowfestival@hotmail.com for more information or if you would like to volunteer.