Visitors from as far as the Midlands and the NorthEast descended on the village for the annual event, which has grown in popularity every year since it began in 1999.

Many turned up in fancy dress and celebrated alongside parading clog dancers and a long sword group, although organiser Karen Duffin was worried the whole thing would be a washout.

Mrs Duffin, chairperson of the committee, said: "A little drizzle soon became a nightmare and we were desperately trying to cover things up. If it had kept up we would probably have had to cancel it, but fortunately it stopped and the sun came out.

"When that happened it was just like opening a door and people poured in and it was a fantastic day in the end. So much hard work goes into this event, but it is so satisfying when people say how great it is. There's nothing quite like this."

The festival is not just about stunning scarecrows and prime pumpkins, but there is also a vintage edge to it.

Mrs Duffin added: "The vintage side of things was really popular. We had steam engines, organs and even a display of metal boats which were all hand-made."