HAY fever took hold of Orton village as 70 life-sized scarecrows filled the pews at All Saints Church.

The Spring Bank Holiday scarecrow festival and church exhibition attracted thousands of visitors to the rural Eden community and raised around £6,000 for church funds.

As villager and PCC member Chris Bland told the Gazette, the scarecrow wedding staged at Orton church closely followed the real-life marriage of local girl Leigh-Ann Potter to Scott Newburn, at midday on the Saturday.

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The newlywed Mrs Newburn, who runs New Ing Lodge B&B in Shap with her husband, told the Gazette they had enjoyed an "amazing" day.

Once the couple and their guests had departed for a marquee reception at Raisgill Hall Farm, villagers swiftly moved in to set up the straw-stuffed wedding party by 2.45pm, complete with top hat, veil and buttonhole flowers.

"They arrived in two very clean cattle trailers," said Mr Bland. "It was fantastic. The comments in our visitors book in church were really good. Everybody was just gob-smacked by it."

Scarecrows were also dotted around Orton for the 15th annual festival, with maps to guide sight-seers, and coffees and cream teas were served. Money raised will help with ongoing repairs at the historic church, where the16th century tower is being lime-rendered, added Mr Bland.

For the real-life Orton bride and groom it was straight back to work after the wedding. Mrs Newburn said their Shap B&B was always busy with Coast to Coast walkers, so they unfortunately did not have chance to view the scarecrows.

However, the couple are hoping to take a belated honeymoon in Utah, USA, this autumn.