THOUSANDS thronged Urchfont to follow the trail of well-dressed dummies during its scarecrow weekend, making an estimated £1,000 for village charities.

Organising committee member Richard Hawkins said: "It is the biggest number of people we have ever attracted and the weather wasn't all that good."

The theme of this year's event was Characters for the Young at Heart. Visitors recognised Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz with the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion, while not far away were Beauty and the Beast.

Elsewhere, Wallace and Grommit, Little Miss Muffet and Cruella Deville were waiting to be identified. But the most difficulty was caused by Christopher Robin, who appeared with his nurse, Alice, with whom he went to see the Changing of the Guards.

Jane and John Steadman made the basic dummies. Mrs Steadman said: "It was a fantastic success. At times people were queuing to buy trail maps and programmes. I suppose we'll have to do it again next year."