MOTHER Goose took the crown at the 2011 Walton-in-Gordano Scarecrow Festival.

Almost 30 scarecrows invaded the North Somerset village to help raise more than �800 for the village hall and church.

Hundreds of visitors bought judging forms and followed the scarecrow trail to vote on their favourite straw characters.

The Hanging Out entry was runner-up to Mother Goose and third was the Scarecrows on Honeymoon entry, in St Paul’s Church.

In the children’s section, Verity Gardener’s Cleopatra was awarded first place, followed by High Down Infant School’s entries, On the Beach and On the Ball. Festival volunteer Maureen Rutley said: “It was a wonderful weekend event and we can’t thank everyone enough for coming along.”