Residents of Pipers Pool near Launceston say a number of the scarecrows were stolen and scattered over the countryside.

One was later reported to police as being a body by the side of the road.

One competitor, Dot Higget, who had her Elizabeth I scarecrow stolen, said: "I was very upset. We put a lot of effort into it."

Dress took hours

But villagers insist that the scarecrow snatcher will not spoil the fun with judging on Wednesday and the results due on Saturday.

Ms Higget added: "It's something we look forward to. I spent hours and hours on that dress. She had a huge billowing skirt in turqoise blue."

One scarecrow was found several miles away by local police and reported as a possible dead body.

Ms Higget said: "It's terrible. We do this for the general public and what people do to some of these scarecrows is disgraceful."