A FESTIVAL featuring more than 45 scarecrows has been staged to raise funds to revamp a village church, part of which dates to the 12th Century.

The event in Appleton Wiske, between Darlington and Northallerton, this weekend is this year raising cash to boost a drive to repair the roof of St Mary’s Church, which is believed to have hosted Edward I for mass in 1299.

Alongside scarecrow trails, an open garden and a ladybird hunt, the church will hold an exhibitions of quilts that have been made for Project Linus UK, a volunteer organisation which aims to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised children.

The event will also feature a quilt and scarecrow-themed wedding cake raffled at the village hall.

In 2013 the event raised more than £2,500 for Appleton Wiske pre-school.

A spokesman for the event said: “In recent times the event has attracted large numbers of visitors from across the region and so we’re hoping to raise some funds to help us pay for the essential repairs to the church.”