A RECORD number of families got their clipboard and pens out as they took part in the annual Westwood scarecrow trail over the bank holiday weekend.

This year the theme of the trail was numbers and proved to be great fun for hundreds of villagers.

The trail took scarecrow hunters all around the village before leading them to a BBQ and refreshments at Westwood park.

The money raised from the sale of maps will be donated to Westwood Nursery and Westwood with Iford Primary School.

Westwood scarecrow trail committee member Bryony Green said: "We are so pleased to have sold around 300 maps over the bank holiday weekend, that is close to a record.

"We hope to have sold 600 maps by the end of the week.

"This is our 8th year of running the scarecrow trail so it has become quite a well known event in the village.

"This year we do have some entries which are tricky to guess with our theme of numbers.

"It is really nice that the whole village gets involved with making the scarecrows and taking part in the trail, it is a real community event.

"There is something for all ages as well, we were saying that it helps to have different generations in your team as there are some the kids will know and some for the older people.

"Having it running over the half means there is something fun and affordable for families to do together.

"The money will help the school and the nursery buy outdoor play equipment and help fund the library so it is for a good cause."

Planning for next year's scarecrow trail will start in January when a theme will be chosen.

The Westwood scarecrow trail is running until Sunday (June 2).

Maps are available to buy from Cost Cutters, the village shop in Tynings Way.