Burton-upon-Trent farm claims largest scarecrow display
A Staffordshire farm is claiming to have created the largest single-site scarecrow display in the world.
The National Forest Adventure Farm in Burton-upon-Trent said it had collected more than 3,312 mannequins - trumping the record of 3,311 in Cincinnati, USA.
Since July visitors have been invited to bring in their ready-made scarecrows or create them on-site.
Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Peppa Pig are among the famous faces that make-up the display.
Farm director Ivor Robinson said visitors had put in "effort and imagination" for the challenge.
He said staff were originally not expecting to pass the 3,000 milestone until mid-September, but visitors had been contributing more than 100 scarecrows a day.
Last week conjoined twin visitors made their own conjoined scarecrows, he added.
The farm's appeal is due to last until 7 September, when the total number of scarecrows will be recorded and sent to the Guinness World Record for verification.
Currently the only scarecrow-related record held by Guinness is that held by the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, set on 12 October 2003.
In 2008 another US attempt to beat this was made in Hoschton, Jackson County.
Local reports claimed Guinness World Records said it did not qualify as the 5,441 scarecrows entered were spread across the town rather than in one location.
Staffordshire farm spokeswoman Jane Thomas said it was doing everything possible to follow the rules set down to get a new world record in Burton-upon-Trent.
The fate of the scarecrows after the record bid will be decided by a public vote, though farm staff have said they will not be destroyed.