Scarecrows shown off in ex-straw-dinary trail

Walking through the village of Sonning in Berkshire on bank holiday Monday, you'd have been forgiven for wondering if it had somewhat of a crow problem.

Scarecrows with designs based on everything from Lionel Messi to Peter Rabbit adorned the village's front gardens - not as a farming exercise, but as part of a biennial event.

Sonning Scarecrows first began in 2000, and sees villagers build their own straw-based figure for visitors to observe and judge.

Taking place across Sunday and Monday, it is estimated the trail featured more than 70 scarecrows - including a handful which closely resembled the American President Donald Trump.

The festival sees visitors flock to the village, near Reading, with one telling the BBC they had been "several times before".

They added that it was "the imagination that some people have" that kept them coming back every two years.

Another visitor said it was their first time, but said it had been "a really good atmosphere and everybody's enjoying it".

One of the festival's organisers, Barbara Carr, said it was a "Sonning tradition".

She explained that it first started as a church fundraiser after the original organiser saw a similar event in Yorkshire.

"He thought it would be a good idea for us to try the same thing, and it worked and we've been doing it ever since," she added.

Carr said that alongside individuals getting involved, the local school, care home and other community groups had also submitted entries.

"Everybody has a great deal of fun, particularly when it's hot," she added.

All funds raised by the two-day event will be donated to local charities.