PEOPLE from far and wide flocked to see a village’s annual scarecrow festival this weekend.

A record 23 entries were submitted at Sedgefield’s fourth annual competition and it was the first year local businesses have also been involved.

From The Stig to Captain Jack Sparrow, entries spanned all themes and were placed throughout the village.

A fireman, jilted jockey and Star Wars characters were also featured, with some accompanied by their own theme tunes.

Visitors picked up their map of all the exhibits at St Edmund’s Church on the green before voting for their favourite.

The winner of the adult category was Becher’s Brook followed by Toy Story in second place and Norman in third while in the children’s category; Toy Story came top followed by Becher’s Brook and The Stig.

Sedgefield’s mayor, Gloria Wills, also picked a winner and crowned the Sedgefield Harriers top followed by runners up IN2 Interests and Jayne’s Fashion.

Meanwhile, the winner of the business category was IN2 Interests with their IN2 Interest-alien.

Second place went to the Sedgefield Harriers for Harriet the harrier and third to the Golden Lion pub for their entry: Waiting for the Borough Bus.

The event was organised by Ryan and Sharon Davey, on behalf of the Sedgefield Community Association.

Mr Davey, 29, also owns the Silly Snaps Photo Booth business which became the competition’s first ever sponsored.

Mrs Davey, 30, said the event was designed as an activity to keep the children entertained throughout the school holidays and had been a huge success.

“It’s been tremendous,” she said.

“Every year everyone raises the bar and although we’ve only been going four years, everyone is really starting to get into it – this year is the most amount of people we’ve ever had enter.”

The couple have already raised more than £120 from the event which will be donated to the community association to organise events such as the village’s annual folk festival and fair.

Mrs Davey also praised all of the businesses and community organisations for getting involved which included Drive for Life, IN2 Interests, Hardwick Primary School, the Sedgefield Harriers and Sainsbury’s.

Sedgefield Fire Station, the Cherry Tree Nursery, Jayne’s Fashion, the Golden Lion Pub and St Edmund’s Church also took part.

For the full list of winners search for ‘Silly Snaps Durham’ on Facebook.