THE rain held off long enough for villagers - and a few visiting scarecrows - to enjoy Alne Street Fair. It is thought that more than 1,000 people turned up for the event in the North Yorkshire village yesterday.

The fair, in aid of the Alne Parish Leisure Association, had stalls, a bar, bouncy castle, a fancy dress competition and a scarecrow competition.

One of the organisers, Dennis Myers, said: "It has been excellent. We were rained off last year and the year before had to cancel because of foot and mouth, so this year has been really good."

Updated: 10:27 Monday, June 09, 2003