The Queen, Boris Johnson, Colonel Tom Moore... the scarecrows just keep popping up in Stanbridge and Tilsworth

It's all thanks to the creative talents of villagers who have risen to the challenge of lifting the gloom of lockdown by constructing an amusing collection of scarecrows which is causing quite a stir in the area.

Now numbering well over 100, it appears to have all began when Stanbridge resident Polly Baker made a scarecrow with her two young boys as one of them is obsessed with Worzel Gummidge.

This galvanised fellow villager Jacqui Sage-Passant into action. Jacqui, of Tilsworth Road, had been looking for ways to relieve the boredom during the coronavirus lockdown and tested the water on Facebook to see if a scarecrows were the answer.

The response was a resounding 'yes' as within a week 50 had been erected, bringing smiles to young and old... and their numbers just keep on growing.

Jacqui, who's husband Paul disappeared into the garage for four days, re-emerging with a sniper creation to perch on their front garden hedge, said: "The idea came out of nowhere. We've done the decorating, the cleaning - there was nothing else we could do!

"I thought we can't keep counting the same NHS rainbows. I suggested it on Facebook. Has it got legs? I've been blown away. Before the week was out we had 50 up. Some really good ones, people have really thought about it."

After the initial surge, she said when people who weren't on Facebook twigged what was going on, even more appeared.

"We're now well over 100, I've stopped counting," she said. "I went out today and saw another five had popped up! It's been brilliant and put a smile on everyone's face.

"We hear the kids outside saying 'there's one'. At 3.30am we heard a car stop outside and a group of lads took a picture. You see it all the time, cars go past, stop, reverse and take a picture.

"It's such a small village, but it's got such a heart. It's always been a lovely community and there's been a lot of pride that we've come together like this. There's been lots of messages asking can it be an annual thing."

Jacqui lists a painter and decorator up a ladder, Doug the builder, and a moody teenager creation as a few of her favourites.

And at some point a few prizes will be dished out too, kindly provided by The Anchor pub, Jacqui, and some offers of wine/chocolates from villagers too.

She added: "There are no plans to take them down until after lockdown. It's keeping people amused and there are new ones springing up. We won't be judging them yet, there's no rush, people can't go out and spend at the moment and it's getting us talking to each other and meeting new people."

Gaye Venn, who helped make the Boris Johnson creation, said: "We wanted a topical scarecrow and this was a joint effort from two neighbours and myself.

"The village has been wonderful during these strange times and it so nice to feel that everyone is pulling together and doing things for other people. Hopefully the scarecrows brought a smile to everyone’s faces."

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