VILLAGERS in Kettlewell are busy getting creative in preparation for the return of the village's hugely popular scarecrow festival.

After a break of two years, and following a virtual event in 2020, the village will be welcoming back thousands of visitors to marvel over the hundreds of creative and hilarious scarecrows and enjoy homemade refreshments over the nine day festival in August.

First held in 1994, to raise money for Kettlewell Primary School, the event has grown and can now attract up to 15,000 visitors, some arriving in coaches, from far and wide. Over the years, it has enjoyed celebrity judges, including the Rylstone WI Calender Girls, and Emmerdale actor Duncan Preston.

This year, there will be two themed trails around the village. To celebrate its return, organisers have chosen 'best of Yorkshire' as the adult theme for 2022, while children's stories will be the theme for younger visitors.

A spokesperson for the organisers, said there were plenty of Yorkshire born people to choose from - from Judy Dench to wrestler, Big Daddy; Last of the Summer Wine's Nora Batty or athletes, the Brownlee brothers, or perhaps, artist David Hockney, or animation stars, Wallace and Gromit.

"The list is endless. And for the little ones, the theme is Kids’ Favourite Stories focusing on the work of a very well-known children’s author. Think purple prickles situated extensively on his behind," said the spokesperson.

Also lined up this year are some to be announced 'new and interesting features' but including a festival beer, brewed by Ilkley's Wharfedale Brewery. The pump label has been designed by a pupil from Kettlewell School.

The spokesperson added; "There was no official trail around the village when the festival first started, but residents were encouraged to create scarecrows depicting their profession, which included farmers a doctor, decorator and an electrician up a ladder, with sparks fizzing from the fuse box, which became a favourite with visitors for many years.

"Thanks to such an enthusiastic response from villagers, more and more scarecrows started to appear

every year – in gardens and doorways, peeking over walls and popping up in every corner of the village."

Cakes and refreshments will be available in the village hall and visitors can park all day for £3, clue sheets for the trails are £1. All profits will go to Kettlewell School, St Mary's Church,

Kettlewell Village Hall and other community projects.

Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival runs from Saturday, August 13 to Sunday, August 21.