THREE boozy scarecrows were making hay behind a farmer's back yesterday.

While Simon Waudby was hard at work, his three scarecrows abandoned their duties for a drink around the piano.

Mr Waudby was stunned when he saw the scarecrows were drinking on the job instead of protecting his barley crop.

Fellow farmer Peter Smith dreamed up the prank when he and his wife passed Mr Waudby's field at Raskelf, North Yorkshire.

He said: "My wife, Sue, saw Simon's lone scarecrow and said, 'doesn't he look lonely'.

"So, as it was the season of goodwill, we thought we would put more scarecrows and a piano in the field to liven things up."

Mr Smith and his 14-year-old twin daughters, Catherine and Felicity, set about making the extra scarecrows and positioned them around an unwanted piano, donated by Les Robinson, of Tollerton.

They also added a scarecrow on a bicycle, who is heading to join his friends at the party.

Mr Smith, of Manor House Farm, Easingwold, said: "We have seen people driving past with big smiles on their faces, which is what was intended."

He expects the scarecrows to stay for a few weeks.