A NEW Scarecrow Festival is being held in Little Sutton and everyone from Ellesmere Port is invited to take part.

The idea originated on Facebook group PALS (Positive Action for Little Sutton) and now has a date - June 23 to 30 - when people are encouraged to make a scarecrow and display it for a week.

It is timed to coincide with the popular summer festival held each year at the village community centre in Little Sutton.

PALS members are hoping to encourage as many Little Sutton businesses and residents as possible to make a scarecrow and join in to make the event a success, and hopes are that it will become an annual event in the village.

The group have created an interactive scarecrow map that people can add to. It can be viewed from the group’s Facebook page and some copies will be available in the village library.

A founder member, Steve Hewitt, said: “As a group we try to do small positive things, that if enough of us do them, create a bigger impact on the village. Our hope is that this will kick start people into getting more involved and to realise it only takes a little effort to make a big difference to where we live and work.

“We are lucky to have the support of Little Sutton Sapphires WI and the Regeneration Group. Together we’ve managed to make many improvements to the village and this will really put Little Sutton on the map.”

The group says it initially ran a poll on its Facebook page to see if there would be enough support for a festival and the feedback suggested there would.

PALS has been running since July 2016 and hold regular litter picks in the village, along with Little Sutton Sapphires WI. The next one is planned for the Saturday after the scarecrows come down on July 6.

Click here to view the scarecrow map.