RESIDENTS have taken an inventive approach to ‘scare’ people into driving responsibly through their village and stopping speeding past their homes.

Drivers making their way through Somerton, near Bicester, will notice some peculiar sights, including babies on horseback, a commuter on skis and a policemen mooning, albeit in scarecrow form.

The latest bid to stop speedy drivers storming through the village has coincided with a scarecrow competition themed on speed awareness.

People have created their own speed-themed displays and propped up more than 20 of them throughout the village.

Somerton Parish Council chairwoman Alison Smith said: “We are looking at alternative ways to increase awareness to drivers passing through our village and surrounding roads and at the same time have a little fun.

“It is hoped that the scarecrows will cause a little ‘edge friction’ and encourage a slower speed through the village.

“Over recent years, we have seen the volume of traffic increase and, with that, more speeding vehicles.

“The M40, Soho Farmhouse and Dorchester Living development at Upper Heyford have all contributed to the increases.”

The Somerton scarecrow competition will run for the next two weeks and also includes representatives of Roald Dahl character the BFG and US President Donald Trump, who is seen waiting at a bus stop.

The competition winners will be rewarded with a fish and chips supper, donated by the Pollocks Event Catering mobile business, based in the village.

Ms Smith added: "I am just really thrilled with it, it has been a community effort.

"With all these things people are very busy and yet we have had more than 20 scarecrows for our first attempt asking people to join in.

"We wanted to embrace it and look at different ways to help stop speeding, things such as road markings and speed bumps obviously cost the county money.

"So it is a great way to start to see what we can do without spending any money."

Residents have said the scarecrow trail, which will be in place until the end of next week, is the first in a long line of alternative plans they hope to pull together to stop speeding in the village.