MICHAEL Jackson, Paddington Bear, the Jamaican bobsleigh team and Spiderman were all to be found in a village near Darlington at the weekend.

Hurworth held its first ever scarecrow festival on Saturday – and the number of entries was higher than expected.

The winning scarecrow was a hedgehog couple and their garden, complete with information about how to make gardens hedgehog-friendly, and was designed by local group Eco People in Croft and Hurworth.

A Paddington Bear scene at the end of Grange Avenue proved popular, and scarecrows could also be found outside the church, the village's fish and chip shop, and the hairdresser, as well as in people's gardens.

Despite the event clashing with the World Cup quarter final, it was screened at Hurworth Grange so visitors to the village could watch.

Visitors were given a map at the village hall to enable them to explore to find all the displays.