SCORES of children and families spent the Whitsun half-term holiday this week eagerly exploring Westwood in search of the village scarecrows.

With a wide range of characters on the trail, there were plenty of opportunities for them to identify those on display.

Local resident, Lilly Webb, said: “It’s a lot of fun, especially for the children, and brings together lots of different parties in the village.

“It’s really popular and offers the chance to do something to benefit the local community.”

This year’s theme was One of a Pair with 33 imaginative and carefully crafted scarecrows on display, including one at the No.10 tea rooms at Avoncliff, all based on film, book and comic characters.

Trail committee member Vicky Down said: “It’s great fun and an absolutely great way of bringing the local community together.

“Last year, more than 750 people took part and we raised over £2,000. We are hoping to beat those figures this year.”

The trail launched last Saturday, May 26 and takes place until Sunday, June 3 and covers the whole of Upper and Lower Westwood and Avoncliff.

Trail maps at £3.50 each are available from the Westwood Post Office and Shop, the New Inn, the Westwood Parish Room, and the No.10 tea rooms at Avoncliff.

Organisers staged a barbecue from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday outside the Westwood Nursery School which will be repeated on Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3.

Along with Westwood Parish Room, the nursery school staff will be serving much-needed refreshments to visitors.

The organisers are hoping to raise more than £2,000 this week from the trail. The money will be distributed between the Westwood Nursery School and Westwood with Iford Primary School.

Primary School head teacher Ian Rockey said: “There are some superb scarecrows on show and we’re always very grateful for the funds raised by the event.”