SLIDESHOW: Battle Scarecrow Festival 2011

The people of Battle let their imaginations run wild as each entrant presented their own take on this year’s theme, ‘The Arts’.

A host of colourful characters, from William Shakespeare to street graffiti artist Banksy, have now been dotted throughout the town, waiting to be discovered on the Battle Scarecrow Trail.

Other creations include opera singer Pavarotti, Carmen Miranda, complete with bananas, baby Stewie, from adult cartoon Family Guy, and organist Jean Martyn, who rock and rolled her way into the final of ITV1’s Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year.

The scarecrows were put in place over the weekend ready for the start of the three week festival, which comes to a close on July 23.

Trail leaflets, which include information on how to vote for your favourite, are now available from the Tourist Information Centre, council office and other High Street businesses.

This year’s festival has been organised by a newly-formed group, which includes former Chamber of Commerce chairman Gary Honeysett, town councillor Richard Jessop and three members of Beautiful Battle, including former chairman Margaret Emeleus.

All proceeds from this year’s event will be spilt between St Micheal’s Hospice and Colleen’s Tenderheart Charity.