“50 Shades of Wray” was just one of the fantastic entries in this year's Wray Scarecrow Festival competition...

Photo: Roberta Snape (www.facebook.com/wrayscarecrows)

Popular television series Call The Midwife stole the show making a star appearance re-dramatised to a slightly spooky effect.

The country scene, complete with a flying stork, secured the Bobbin Mill Crew first prize in the annual event.

As official sponsors for the truly creative competition, Virgin Balloon Flights were thrilled to see so many innovative makeshift scarecrow scenes in the Lune Valley’s famous Wray village.

But the Bobbin Mill Crew’s intricate design wowed the judges and now they will be able to take to the skies for a Virgin Balloon ride.

This year’s theme was literary characters, myths and fairy tales and the whole village came alive with all sorts of inventive scarecrows.

The festival ran from April 27 to May 6, culminating in the 26th annual fair on the Bank Holiday Monday.

This year’s attractions included a 10k road race, car boot sale, giant scarecrow parade, vintage market, classic car show, classic bike night, ball race and fun fair.

“Our visitor numbers were amazing,” said Ian Simpson, on behalf of the Wray Scarecrow Festival & Fair Committee.

“It’s always difficult to estimate numbers but this year we think on the Bank Holiday Monday, we had 15,000 visitors which is phenomenal.

“I’ve not yet seen any figures for the funds raised for local good causes but we are optimistic of very good results, which will benefit many groups in the local community.

“We could not do this without the generous support of sponsors like Virgin Balloons.”

Mr Simpson said Call The Midwife was a very worthy winner.

“It was the amount of effort and ingenuity, which went into it. “It even had a stork that flew across the top of the display and it was clear that group of people had spent a huge amount of time on it.”

Why not see the scarecrows from the sky next year and jump on board for a Virgin Balloon ride in Lancashire?

Simply call 01952 212750 or visit our website.