A POPULAR scarecrow competition will make a return this year - although the rules have changed slightly to ensure it is compliant with the current lockdown guidelines.

Due to popular demand on Facebook, a contest to judge the best scarecrow creations will return to the Allen Valleys and surrounding areas.

But it will become the Allen Valleys Scarecrow Photograph Festival in 2020 as judging will have to take place remotely, with participants asked to submit their entries by submitting photographs.

Organised by Allen Valley Churches, the rules of the competition state that the scarecrows must be made out of materials currently lying about people’s properties, and non-essential journeys for materials should not take place.

The competition is currently running and people are asked to submit photographs of their scarecrows by visiting www.allendalechurch.co.uk/scarecrow.

The deadline for photographs is 5pm on Thursday, April 30. Then will follow a week-long public vote, to be held between Friday, May 1 and Friday, May 8.

Certificates for the three entries which receive the most votes will then be posted out.

The winners will be announced during a streamed church service by Allen Valley Churches at 10.30am on Sunday, May 10.