THE judging of an increasingly popular annual scarecrow competition has taken place.

Deputy Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Rob Walsh has toured the route of the Gresford and Marford scarecrow competition ahead of announcing the winners next month.

The prizegiving, for best scarecrow, and most correct entries in the Guess the Scarecrow competition will be on Saturday, September 8 at 2pm in the Scout Hut on Allington Park in Gresford.

There, all or most of the scarecrows will be on display and the ladies of Gresford Women's Institute will be selling refreshments for a Scarecrow Tea.

It will also be confirmed how much money has been raised by the trail competition this year, all of which will go towards environmental improvements for Gresford and Marford.

This is the third IMAGE (Improve Marford And Gresford’s Environment) scarecrow trail and the theme this year is 'Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes' with more than 30 characters on display.

IMAGE has run the trail along the main routes of Chester Road, Claypit Lane, Pant Lane and High Street since August 2016 and it has proved a great hit.

The 30 scarecrows will be on show at marked locations along the route until Saturday, September 1, for everyone to ponder over and identify.

Programmes, priced at £2, are available from local shops as advertised locally and on social media and you can nominate your favourite for a 'peoples prize'.

Launching the trail, the chairman of IMAGE, Andrew Bailey said: “I hope that everyone gets the same enjoyment as in previous years and I thank and congratulate all those who have found their creative streak.

"Funds raised will be going to environmental matters as determined by the group, open to all - possibly including healthy eating\feeding advice for our resident ducks."