Scarecrow display in Lynton, Lynmouth, Brendon and Barbrook

SCARECROWS have returned to the Lyn valley.

Sitting in front gardens and peering from rooftops the colourful mannequins have popped up in Lynton, Lynmouth, Brendon and Barbrook.

Among them is an Amy Winehouse lookalike, named Amy Crowhouse.

Created by Trevor Ley she sits next to a hairdressing salon — with a pair of crows nesting in her birds' nest hairdo.

Another arresting sight is a busty blonde in a policeman's helmet.

It's a reference to recently-retired local policeman Phil Bourne, who took a starring role in a village pantomime as a drag artist.

Visitors to the area can also expect to bump into a Paul O'Grady scarecrow in a boat in Lynmouth harbour and a member of the French Foreign Legion on the crenellated roof of the former Royal Castle Hotel.

Tim Prosser, chairman of the Lyn Valley Society, says the annual scarecrow festival is a bit of "innocent rural fun".

It's now in its fourth year and so far around 100 scarecrows have gone on display.

Tim's own contribution is a goat, displayed on top of his garden hedge.

Mr Prosser said: "It's not a competition — the best thing about it is that it raises a smile."

The scarecrows remain on display in the area until August 31.

● For a slideshow of more pictures of the scarecrows go to our website at:

www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk