Abbeyfield House in Beaminster has welcomed a new face with a difference.

Residents and staff at the sheltered housing scheme in Beaminster near Bridport have been showing their creative side by entering the Abbeyfield Scarecrow Challenge, a competition across all Abbeyfield houses and homes nationwide.

The Abbeyfield Society, the charity that oversees Abbeyfield House, has been running its Scarecrow Challenge for over 1,000 residents and 400 staff that live and work in over 300 Abbeyfield care homes, sheltered housing schemes and independent living complexes across the UK. Abbeyfield House chose to create Bob the Builder.

Anna Boyes, Abbeyfield's Director of Marketing, said: "We wanted to devise an autumnal competition that allowed our talented staff and residents to show a bit of creative flair.

"The scarecrows help to put our houses and homes on the map, and will hopefully become a quirky feature that will attract the attention of passers-by. As the weather grows colder, the scarecrows will serve as a reminder of the warm, friendly environment that Abbeyfield provides."

The aim of attracting the attention of the local communities around its houses and homes is not a new one for Abbeyfield. Staff, residents and volunteers routinely put on events and activities that welcome in people from the local neighbourhood, as seen by the Platinum Jubilee parties held in June and year-round open days, fêtes and coffee mornings.

Staff and residents have welcomed the opportunity to once again open their doors (and gardens) to visitors following COVID restrictions, and they said that they enjoyed the fact that the Scarecrow Challenge allowed them to use their imagination and draw on their creativity.

She continued: "Abbeyfield provides the perfect solution to the accommodation and support needs of over-55s, whilst enabling them to maintain as much independence in later life as they wish. Through our values of community and companionship, we strive to help alleviate the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can be quite prevalent amongst the older population, particularly over the winter months."