HALF of the proceeds from the 2016 Cononley Scarecrow Festival will be donated to a children's charity.

The Cononley Village Institute has invested funds raised from previous years into the maintenance and upgrade of its facilities.

However, this year the committee has decided to split the festival proceeds with the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

Julian Brown, chairman of the Cononley Village Institute, said: "Each year Cononley continues to surprise us with their inventiveness and the tremendous effort villagers make to stage the weekend and that’s what I think makes it so successful.

"This year we have chosen the theme of ‘Top of the Pops’ and we are very much looking forward to seeing what pop star/band/song/album creations pop up around the village. We are also very excited to be able to help raise funds for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund."

Sharon Coyle, chief executive officer of the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, said: "Any funds raised will go towards our ‘Keeping The Beat” Campaign, which is aiming to raise money to provide a revolutionary Hybrid Children’s Heart Theatre for the children of Yorkshire, the Humber and North Lincolnshire."

This festival starts on Saturday and runs until Monday and visitors can follow the Scarecrow Trail around the village.

Scarecrow programmes will be available to buy from Cononley Post Office, The New Inn and The Railway.

Refreshments will be provided in the village institute on Sunday afternoon and throughout the day on Monday.

There will be the two duck races on Monday afternoon and various activities taking place in the institute.