BOAR-FACED scarecrows will be on display in a North Yorkshire village today.

The scarecrow trail in Ripley, near Harrogate, raises money towards the restoration of the village church.

The idea to give each scarecrow a boar's head comes from when Thomas de Inglby, whose crest is the emblem of the village, and who was an ancestor of Sir Thomas Inglby of Ripley Castle, saved King Edward III from a wild boar attack in 1355.

Visitors are invited to find all 26 scarecrows. Previously, the scarecrows have been found climbing a roof, hanging from trees and in the bus shelter.

Each scarecrow is given a name with a pig theme, such as Boarglar Bill, Lester Piggot and Piggy Back.

Organiser Karen Evans said: "I started the event four years ago to encourage people back into the village after the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

"It's getting harder and harder to think up original names for the boars."

Entry forms cost £2 and are available in all the village shops.

Prizes included a voucher for a meal at the Boar's Head Hotel and a family ticket for Ripley Castle and grounds.

Last year's festival raised over £880 for All Saints' Church and organisers are hoping to beat that total this year.

Villagers need another £8,000 to renovate the church tower.

The trail will end at 6pm.