BORIS Johnson, Dominic Cummings and Spongebob Squarepants have all won prizes in an Oxfordshire village this month, in scarecrow form.

The new competition in Islip, near Bicester, was the first of its kind and organisers said it would be the perfect event under the current social distancing rules.

Overall, 47 scarecrows were on display around the village last weekend.

Villager Kathryn Grant came up with the idea during lockdown when she placed a scarecrow on her front lawn to promote 'No Mow May' - a campaign by Plantlife encouraging people to stop mowing their lawns for a month.

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She said: "Others were putting out tables with bits and bobs they no longer wanted for passers-by to take and donate.

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"These two things were the germ of an idea which Rev Lucy Thirtle and I both had and, with the help of Annette Jaggard - an artistic genius - and myself - a tech expert - grew into the scarecrow show with stalls on the village green."

Contestants had to build and dress their scarecrows however they liked.

Ms Grant added: "As this was our debut, we thought we would leave the choice of scarecrow to the individual and wow, I’m so glad we did.

"We were delighted that so many people rose to the challenge and let their imaginations run away with them. The variety of themes was tremendous.

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"Not only that, but the preparation of props and materials, re-purposing of junk, the creation of papier-mâché heads, clever use of masks and witty names were all much more impressive than we had ever imagined."

Throughout the weekend there were also stalls on the village green which managed to raise £800 which will go to St Nicholas Church in Islip and the NSPCC.

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Scarecrows Boris and Dominic, Obi-Wan Scarecrow and Sponge Bob Strawpants came in first, second and third places. The public vote chose Woodie, What Ho, Jeeves, and Sozzled Sid.

Other scarecrows that were entered into the competition were Daddy Pig (from children's show Peppa Pig) and Jack Lumber, a tree surgeon that was tied from a tree in the village green which took people by surprise.

The NHS was represented in the form of a doctor and nurse at school and a doctor and patient on Kidlington Road.

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Ms Grant said: "I was particularly taken with 'Aliens Love Underpants'. Having been very intrigued by the title, I was really impressed by the three-headed, splendidly decorated creature that stared back at me.

"My own scarecrow, Prince Charles’ staycation in Bournemouth complete with sandcastle, was really very shabby on the creative side but I did see several people stop their cars to take a photo because it made them laugh.

"There were many very funny ones and the smiles and chuckles were among the best things about the weekend."

To view all of the scarecrow entries, go to stnicholasislip.wordpress.com/news-events.