The ninth annual event attracted dozens of creative entries. Last year's was cancelled due to flooding.

Cllr Godfrey Allanson, who lives in the village, said: "It has got off to a fantastic start. The are some really excellent scarecrows this year, no doubt about it.



"All we wanted was for the weather to stay fine and we have got our wish. Because it was called off last year we were worried we would lose momentum and not as many people would come, but thankfully that doesn't look to be the case.



"I think the event is so popular because it is unusual. Plus we don't have any vans selling hamburgers or anything like that."



This year's guest judge was Elly Fiorentini, of Radio York, and prizes were also given out for the best displays judged by members of the public.



Special displays were on show in All Saints' Church based on the theme Around the World, while tea and refreshments were served at the village hall.





The last time the festival took place in 2006 it was marred by a vandal attack on a scarecrow based on TV cartoon character Homer Simpson. All that was left were his large blue trainers after yobs set fire to him.





But Lyn Smith, who made the design, refused to let the incident put him off and has made scarecrows of the whole Simpsons family for this year's event.





He said: "It's been done over a period of about 12 months. I enter the contest every year and a couple of years ago I won a prize for my Wallace and Gromit entry."





Mr Smith was also involved in creating one of the festival's most popular entries – the Muston Minstrels brass band.



He said: "Around a dozen of us got together to make the display and we are really pleased with it."



The festival runs until next Sunday.