THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to Belbroughton to see an ex-straw special scarecrow at this year’s 13th annual event.

A unique Australian ambassador, sent over from the Tambourine Mountain scarecrow festival in Queensland, will be taking pride of place at the event being held this weekend, September 25-26.

In preparation for this year’s festival - which will have a sporty theme - Belbroughton scarecrow makers have been creating a twin wurzel to send back Down Under for the Aussies’ 2011 scarecrow show.

Meanwhile back in north Worcestershire - organisers have been busy making sure visitors to this year’s scarecrow fest have something to crow about.

The two-day event will see an array of imaginative straw-stuffed sports-related creations littering the village streets.

There will also be bouncy castles, slides, face painting, a balloon race, miniature railway, farmers’ market, refreshments and a host of stalls.

Richard Bartram, chairman of the Belbroughton Scarecrow Committee chairman, said: “We always have a very successful festival.

“There’s a lot of preparation that goes into organising this event and hopefully this year will be our best one yet.”

Parking for the event costs £5, which includes a festival programme.