Residents of Gisburn are hoping their first ever scarecrow festival will help put the village back on the map.

"We really have no meeting place since the pubs closed, so we're hoping the scarecrow festival will get the community together and put Gisburn on the map," said festival organiser Lindsay McGlynn.

"We have themed the weekend around children's books and local groups will be running a cafe in our village hall which has recently been refurbished," said Lindsay. "We have the Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Rainbows, Guides, aerobics group and the school all involved and it would be great to have a good turn out."

Visitors and residents that do turn out from10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday (June 28 and 29) will have the chance to see around 40 scarecrows modelled after book characters.

There will be prizes for best scarecrows, a prize draw for completed correct trail lists, a mini scarecrow hunt for the tots, a raffle with prizes and a cafe serving breakfast and cakes.

"Gisburn currently has no vicar for our beautiful church and the last village pub has been closed since October last year," added Lindsay. "We feel that organising community events such as this helps to bring the community closer together and will hopefully attract a new vicar and landlord."

For more information about the festival, visit facebook.com/events/658954424168297