RESIDENTS and businesses in the area are being urged to take part in the Ilminster Scarecrow Competition 2014.

The competition, which coincides with the Ilminster Midsummer Experience weekend, challenges people to design, make and display a scarecrow and perhaps bag high street gift vouchers as a prize.

Weird and wonderful creations in the past have included a scarecrow toasting marshmallows, an organic scarecrow named Flora and a carbon copy of Dr Who and his faithful hound K9.

Entrants are free to be as inventive as they like but are encouraged to use recycled and organic materials.

Scarecrows can be made out of virtually any material and do not have to have a theme. They must have an element of plant material which can be dried, fresh or living, and must be made from scratch.

Entry forms are available from the Council Offices, North Street, between 10am and 12pm weekdays or collected from the Meeting House, Ilminster. They are also available by email or can be downloaded from the town council website at www.Ilminster.gov.uk Completed entry forms must reach the council offices by noon on Thursday, May 29.