THE SCARECROW used to be one of the most familiar figures of the rural landscape and his raggedy figure has been frightening birds away from crops for more than 3000 years.

His friendly face will be on show in Hillside soon when the Angus village hosts a weekend scarecrow festival to help raise money for the Dorward House re-building fund.

Innovation in the agricultural industry has resulted in the scarecrow becoming a less familiar sight but more than 100 are expected to come out of retirement for the Hillside festival.

Organisers of the first festival of its kind in the area hope it will be a big fund-raiser for the residential care home which is undergoing a £2 million renovation and extension.

While the work is being done the residents are being housed temporarily at Carnegie Clinic in Hillside.

Visitors to the festival will be encouraged to follow a trail of scarecrows crafted by villagers and local businesses and to complete a related quiz.

Refreshments will be served along the way and there will be stalls and a number of other fun activities.

Susan Coull, deputy chairwoman of the board of governors of Dorward House, said she hoped everyone in the village would get involved, adding, “It is an opportunity to let imaginations go a bit.”

The festival is on September 8-9, from 10am-4pm on the Saturday and noon-4pm on the Sunday.