SCENES from rural life, television characters and wartime nostalgia captured the imagination of judges and ingenious scarecrow makers in the village of Bisterne near Ringwood.

Dozens of curious figures suddenly appeared in fields, gardens, roadside verges and hedgerows along the main Christchurch road in the third annual scarecrow competition.

"The standard has got higher and higher. This year we even had some with lights and music," said village hall treasurer Jocelyn Gratwick.

Flowerpot men Bill and Ben outside the Kingston home of Keith Luckie and Delboy and Rodney, complete with their three-wheeled van, made by John Frampton at Crow were among the television-inspired entries.

The prize for best group entry went to Sue Harper's bus queue - an elderly couple and a mother and a baby - waiting in the layby outside her home at Lower Kingston.

Many creations were kept under wraps until the arrival of the judges to avoid past problems of damage from weather and vandals.

The complete cast of characters will remain on show to the public until September 4.

Maps showing the location of all 26 scarecrows are available from the tourist information office in Ringwood and, Dragon Cottage at Bisterne, with proceeds going to the village hall funds.