A GROUP of Blacksnape residents rolled up their sleeves for a village tidy-up ahead of competing in the first ever East Rural Scarecrow Festival.

Residents picked up litter, repaired dry stone walls, trimmed grass verges, and carried out planting, ‘bringing the local community together’.

The aim was to improve the look of the village in preparation for its entry into the East Rural Scarecrow Festival, taking place on the weekend of July 2 to 4 in Hoddlesden.

The new festival is being spearheaded by Darwen councillor Julie Slater, who sits on the East Rural Network.

She said: “We wanted something which would create community cohesion and be fun at the same time.

“The competition is open to children, groups, and families, and will enc- ourage community members to work together.

“In the East rural area many people have begun clean-ing their villages, and picking up the rubbish dropped by cars who travel through, in prepar-ation for their entry into the competition.”

The winners will be chosen by Darwen Mayor, Coun Sheila Williams, and her consort John Williams; Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen, Jake Berry; and Tim Birch, member of Dar-wen and Rural Neighbourhood Board; at the finals in St Paul’s School, Hodd-lesden.

Martyn Skipper, of the Blacksnape Residents’ Group, said: “Litter picking, mowing and planting were the initial items planned in an attempt to both spruce-up the village, and bring the community together.

“This job was successfully undertaken, but many of the residents took this a stage further and some attempt was made to rebuild parts of a wall.”

The group secured the support of local safety equipment firm ARCO, which supplied plastic rubble sacks, industrial gloves, a dozen litter pickers, and high-visibility jackets.

Local councillor Christopher Thayne said: “The new festival has got the local community to focus on a shared activity and to feel proud of where they live.”

To enter the competition email julie. slater@blackburn.gov.uk