A pirate, a crocodile and a teenage wizard were just some of the unusual visitors to an Oxfordshire village at the weekend.

But the unlikely guests did not pose any danger - because they were scarecrows!

More than 20 straw-filled creations were dotted around the village of Stratton Audley, near Bicester, to attract visitors to its annual open gardens weekend.

As well as adorning street corners and villagers' gardens, scarecrows could be spotted in the village lake and protruding from a chimney.

There was also a trail of hidden yellow rubber ducks for children to follow, 10 open gardens, a plant stall, raffle and refreshments.

Festival spokesman Jackie Fox said other scarecrows included a bee keeper, Humpty Dumpty and Harry Potter.

She said: "It was a brilliant weekend. We were just blessed with the weather.

"People really enjoyed it. One family had even stuck a scarecrow coming out their chimney - they had actually pushed it up from below."

Mrs Fox said more than 400 people had attended the event on Saturday and Sunday from as far away as London and Leamington Spa.

The festival, which is now in its fourth year, raised about £2,000 for the village church.