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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Anna Lewis

These Welsh villages have some of the best scarecrows you've ever seen

In a small Welsh village, Elton John is bashing out a rendition of Crocodile Rock while Mr Bean lounges nearby.

There are also three versions of Freddie Mercury, plus Marilyn Monroe holding down her dress as the Queen clears a hedgerow on horseback.

That's because some pretty impressive scarecrows have taken over a rural patch of Mid Wales, all in the name of charity.

Freddie Mercury has been a popular choice this year (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)
Elton makes a stop in Wales on his world-wide tour (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)
Marilyn Monroe strikes her iconic pose (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)
Even the Queen was spotted on a quick ride out (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)

Now in its third year, the Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival in Powys first came to light thanks to a brainwave from community nurse Rhona Farley-Harper.

The principle is simple - people pay £5 to enter their unique, hand-crafted scarecrow into the competition to raise money for Hope House and boost community spirit in the area.

And the result has been quite something.

Mr Bean guards one home (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)
Ken Dodds and his iconic tickling stick (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)
One unlucky has been subjected to a bush tucker trial (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)

Rhona, 34, said: "This year it's been quality rather than quantity. Marilyn Monroe is a favourite and there's a really good Freddie Mercury one as well.

"Elton John has been very popular - there's three or four - and we did Bake Off with Paul Hollywood."

"We've got Mr Bean, and Donald Trump is on a wall."

In a bid to out do last year's success, this year's theme is celebrities and famous faces. So far there have been 34 entries, but with one week to go there's still time for some more national treasures to pop up.

In 2018 the two villages boasted more than 70 scarecrows replicating anything from Pennywise the Clown to Spiderman and Batman as residents took the the film and TV theme to a whole new level.

Freddie Mercury makes another appearance (Bettws and Tregynon Scarecrow Festival)

Rhona, a mother of three, said: "We've had loads of people driving past and turning around to see them since we've got three on our street.

"To see the little kids smiling in the back of the car is great.

"I just love seeing people enjoying doing them and it's a really good community spirit. It just shows what we're all about."

As well as being judged by a panel of certified experts, the scarecrows will also fight it out for the people's choice award. You can see all the entries, and vote for your favourite here.

Prizes for the competition include a three course meal for four at the Bull & Heifer in Bettws Cedewain, an MOT from David Hockly and a £40 voucher for the Lakeside restaurant near Montgomery.

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