HORDES of scarecrows descended on Padgate and Woolston last week for an inaugural festival.

The first Scatter a Scarecrow Week took place from September 4 to 9, with schools, businesses, community groups and homeowners creating entries to display in the area.

One entry, Padgate Methodist Church's 'homeless' scarecrow, was kidnapped - with abductors leaving behind only one of his feet.

A Mad Hatter's tea party-themed picnic was held on Padgate Community Garden, which had organised the festival, on Saturday to bring the Scatter a Scarecrow Week to a close.

Browse our gallery above to see some of the highlights of the scarecrow festival.