Axminster Chamber of Commerce has announced today (May 21) the rollout of the scarecrow trail is on hold.

It comes after the news that one Axminster resident Liza Abbott has had her Spiderman-themed scarecrow stolen from the front of her house overnight.

The chamber announced that they are holding back on another batch of scarecrows to put a focus on just one that has been stolen.

They are appealing for whoever took the scarecrow to drop it into Axminster Printing, no questions asked and the staff will return it back to its owner to be proudly displayed outside their home once more.

The scarecrow was created by her grandson who went to sleep there last night hoping to see it again this morning.

A spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce said: "Sadly, someone felt the need to steal Spider Man, so the excitement very quickly turned to sadness and bewilderment. First, we want the community to say a big well done to him for a job very done and much appreciated by the community."

"Secondly, if the person who stole it feels sufficiently guilty, we would love to see it returned with no questions asked. Just pop it quietly into Axminster Printing and we will happily restore it to its rightful owner - and make his day."

The scarecrow trail was launched last week and everyone from shops in the town centre to gardens in quiet residential streets have got involved with the trail.

Outside the Guildhall sits a scarecrow in full mayoral robes and regalia appearing to have taken over charge of Axminster Town Council from Town Mayor Cllr Jill Farrow. The lookalike has been christened ‘Cllr Till Harrow’ and also wears a shirt donated by the Town Clerk.

Close by is the very life-like figure of Chichi who demonstrates the whole range of skills in play at the Axe Valley Crafts Group. There is even a scarecrow looking out from the Axminster Fire Station’s training tower.

The scarecrows will stay in place through until Monday 27 May when the popular ‘Axminster Gate to Plate’ food festival returns with an estimated 60 traders, an all-day event made possible by funding from East Devon District Council and Axminster Town Council. 

 Ahead of that on Friday 24 May from 4pm, the ‘Axminster Eats’ street food event sets up its stalls for the first time on the Minster Green, a location it will return to on the fourth Friday of each summer months.