Villagers are being encouraged to support an annual scarecrow festival or it will be at risk of dying.

Seaton Scarecrow Festival’s trail day will take place on Saturday from 10am to 4pm and organisers want to encourage people to go along and have their say on which is the best scarecrow.

But councillor Ken Slone, who is on the organising committee, said this year’s festival had received the fewest of entries (25) for years.

He said: “I’m really disappointed with the interest. People can’t make time to make one and it’s always the same people taking part in community projects.

“I really don’t know where the community spirit is. But if people don’t support it, there’s a good chance the scarecrow festival will be at risk.

“These events are good for the village because people get to know each other, they meet people they see in the village but don’t know.

“We had a community clean-up a few months ago and I met people I didn’t even know lived in the village.”

Mr Slone made his own scarecrow – Anyone For Tennis? – which is a tennis player made out of sports rackets.

He said: “It didn’t take very long to make. I’ve always done a different scarecrow each year.”

The 1st Seaton Brownies group are taking part in the festival for the third time, making a dove which is hanging from a tree in St Paul’s churchyard.

Heather Wilson, leader, said: “We made it with help from some parents as well as the children. The theme we chose is Peace, Love, Hope. Children also made some bunting and wrote messages. Some of them are actually quite mature.”

Heather said the theme was chosen in the wake of recent terror attacks.

The Pack Horse pub in Low Seaton entered The Pack Horse Smurfs.

Other scarecrows in the village include Pinocchio, Seaton Stormtrooper, Scarecrow Repair Man, Biker Babe and St George And The Dragon.

Mr Slone is calling on villagers to take part in the scarecrow trail on Saturday. People are given a map of the village with the location of the scarecrows.

They assign points to each entry and the one with most points wins the people’s choice prize. The organising committee also picks its winner.

Refreshments are provided on the day. To take part, go to the parish rooms in Causeway Road at 10am.