Stone the 'crows
THE second Hayling Scarecrow Festival was stuffed to the gunwhales with entries giving the judges a massive headache as thousands of vistors were prepared to invade the island around Carnival time.
There were just not simple Worzel Gummidge look-alikes among the 350 entries but everything from the Simpsons cartoon characters, to Pirates of the Caribbean and even a bunch of kids climbing over the school wall.
The panel of four judges – including Havant MP David Willetts and organiser Colin Telford – spent all of Saturday, July 26 touring the Island inspecting the many whacky and inventive entries.
Far more businesses and community group have got in the spirit this year by making a scarecrow, which have turned up everywhere from shop windows and doorways to even the top of Hayling's Fire Station in Elm Grove.
Colin Telford and his wife Marie, owners of Hayling Island Bookshop in Mengham, have spent months working with their committee from the Market Town Initiative Group, creating the trail booklet which hundreds of children will use to explore the Island, and enter the competition to spot the most scarecrows.
One shop sold 400 of the 25p booklets in just one day – leaving Colin confident that last year's turnout of 3,000 visitors who followed the trail will be easily eclipsed, generating cash for businesses in the tourist market.
Mr Willetts was very impressed with the display. He said: "I think the festival is fantastic.
"The Island was so alive and we have had some great weather. There were lots of people out doing the trail on Saturday.
"There were so many imaginative ideas – I really like the ones with a bit of wit.
"There was a great mix of local shops, schools and children's groups joining in, but you have also got lots of families taking part as well."
The Tory was so impressed he declared: "We are on our way to becoming the nation's scarecrow capital."
And Mr Telford is confident Hayling is on its way to being recognised as England's largest scarecrow festival.
The winners were due to be announced during the Hayling Carnival on August 2.
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Weather for Hayling
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
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