YOUNGSTERS and their families came up with a host of characters for a school scarecrow competition.

There were 26 designs in the contest held annually at Shotley Bridge Infant School.

The five best will stand guard over seedbeds tended by each class in the school allotment.

“It is one of many fun events we have in school to enrich the curriculum,” said headteacher Martin Bell.

“We have got a Chelsea pensioner – which is very topical - a Peppa Pig, a sheep made from a bale of hay, three scare-robots, a Cruella de Vil, a couple of cowboys some pirates, and a little split-personality girl who is nice on one side and naughty on the other.

“They are incredibly imaginative. The mums and dads really got stuck in.”