SCORES of scarecrows turned out to break a world record for Wellington-based charity Reminiscence Learning.

They stood in scarecrow formation at Goodland Gardens in Taunton during Archie’s Record Breaking Birthday Party in an attempt to break the record for the largest gathering of people dressed as scarecrows.

Archie – a scarecrow diagnosed with dementia in a project that raises awareness of the condition – was surrounded by more than 250 scarecrow friends. Guinness now needs to verify the record.

The scarecrows had paraded from Tangier to the record attempt area led by Archie, Mayor of Taunton Deane Cllr Vivienne Stock-Williams with consort Ian Stock-Williams, and Wellington Majorettes, all in scarecrow attire.

The record attempt at the dementia awareness event was followed by a birthday party games and sharing of birthday cake given by Ministry of Cake. Canoeists assisted with a charity duck race with more than 1,000 ducks being released into the river.

The award-winning inter-generational dementia awareness Archie Project links local primary schools, care homes, sheltered housing schemes, businesses/services and members of the community with the aim of reducing the fear and stigma that surrounds dementia. Some 9,100 people live with the condition in Somerset.

The charity had help organising the event from Santander in Taunton, Time for Events, Atlantic FM and the Mayor of Taunton Deane. On the day it also had support from Rotary Club of Taunton Vale, Quantock Rotary and many others to help marshal the event, as well as support from Jem at Reflex Eye, Terry Milton and Ingrid Vickery, who filmed and photographed the event.