Lacock, a small village just outside Chippenham, has a resident population of 350 at the last count but each year at the end of March the head count swells by almost 50. As the Easter Holiday looms strange beings start cropping up all over the village. Strange beings disguised as Kings, Queens, pop stars and crustacea. OK, OK without getting too corny, oops, it's that time of year again of the annual scarecrow invasion for the Lacock Scarecrow Festival. Now in its fourth year, the scarecrow festival has come a long way in a short length of time. Not only has it become an annual event but it has also got virtually every household in the village busy making full-size scarecrow men (and women). And competition between neighbours is, to say the least, intense. Each year, towards the end of March, naked scarecrow frames are dragged out of storage from garden sheds, garages and cupboards, throughout the village, and togged up according to a theme. This year the theme is 'Kings and Queens'. In the run up to the Easter Holidays, the straw stuffed figures are made up, dressed up and positioned throughout the village and for three weeks can be spotted just about anywhere from cottage roofs and gardens to hanging around in doorways or peering out from behind windows. This year there are 42 'corny characters' taking up their positions on a trail that visitors can wander along, on a scarecrow safari, and try to guess who they're supposed to be. Trail maps show the way and all scarecrow hunters have to do is guess the names of each scarecrow. But be warned it can be harder than it sounds. There are prizes for first, second and third, up for grabs, for the most correct answers plus a chance to vote for the best scarecrow whose owner will also win a prize. The Lacock Scarecrow Festival 2007 runs from Saturday 24th March and goes on until Sunday 15th April 2007. All proceeds will go to Lacock school to help refurnish the school's classrooms. | 
