A FUN-FILLED scarecrow competition has been launched in Winsford.

More than 200 families have already joined in.

Children across the town have created all sorts of scarecrows.

Mum-of-two Helen Scanlan said: "Because we can't trick or treat this year we thought it would be a good idea for people to make scarecrows so that families could go round and look at them."

The school nurse who works in Middlewich has designed her own pair of scarecrows to reflect how she and husband Andy, a firefighter in Manchester, continued to work throughout the pandemic.

The idea of the competition came from Sharon O'Brien who works at Allen Sheen Sewing Machines in High Street with partner Jonathan Sheen.

 

The shop is offering a £20 gift voucher for the best prize and organisers hope more businesses will pledge support by offering further sponsorship.

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"I'm quite excited by the number of entries we have received already," said Helen, whose son Evan, 12 is a pupil at Winsford Academy and daughter Fern, seven, attends Wharton CE Primary School.

"We're hoping families will go round Winsford and visit the scarecrows. They don't have to have a Halloween theme. We will be leaving a bowl of sweets beside ours so children can help themselves.

"We hope if this is successful it might be something we can do every year."

Entry forms are available from Sheens or Winsford Scarecrow Competition on Facebook. Any businesses able to offer prizes can contact Helen Scanlan o n Facebook.

The closing date is October 31. Winners will be announced on bonfire night.