THE DARNHALL community came together to celebrate their third annual Village Day on Saturday, July 14.

Despite the odd rain shower, organisers said it was the ‘biggest and best so far’.

The day started with a procession led by John Bownes’ Sandbach-built 1899 Foden steam engine, closely followed by vintage tractors and cars and the Darnhall Dancers - carried to the Hall in Richard Langley’s trailer.

The afternoon got off to a loud start when the Winsford E-Act Academy band, Endeavour, played a specially composed fanfare, written by band leader and maestro Oliver Bancroft.

Singers and musicians from the Academy played for the attentive crowds, led by Matt Hilditch, and followed by Joelle Edwards, Sam Lyon and Megan Delaney, Afternoon events included a dog show judged by expert Audrey Howard from the Ash House Boarding Kennels.

The overall winner of a number of classes, such as waggly tail and obedience, was Harry Strachan and his dog Alfie. The Miss Darnhalls this year were sisters Sophie and Lucy Bowes. Sophie was Darnhall Princess and and Lucy was Queen. They were assisted by last year’s incumbents Renee Hassall and Hannah Done.

This year saw more than twenty scarecrows adorning the village, including odes to Lady Gaga and various Olympians.

The public voted Laurence and Sally Jinks’ urbane fox - spotted outside their farm on Swanlow Lane - as the winning creation.

Events continued with a gun dog demonstration by John McDean, before the resident Darnhall Dancers performed in the Hall to great applause. The final event of the day was a test of strength in the Tug of War, with the Young Farmers team taking the honours.

The day raised more than £1,800 to go towards a new floor for the Darnhall Dancers to perfect their routines on.