IT IS HOPED a scarecrow competition could raise spirits in Dollar this month amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Families are being encouraged to take part in the town's very first Scarecrow Day on May 30 by building a display with their children.

The idea came from local resident Roberta Gault and is being taken forward by Dollar Development Trust.

It is hoped the competition will bring the community together in spirit, even if people are asked not to see their friends during the current coronavirus lockdown.

Residents in Dollar are being encouraged to get creative over the next two weeks in the lead up, display their creations on the day, give the scarecrow a name and tell its story.

And depending on how popular the idea is, the Scarecrow Day in Dollar could become a brand new tradition.

Meanwhile, Dollar Development Trust has been supporting the local volunteer response to Covid–19 along with the community council.

There is a support service helpline to help vulnerable and self-isolating people with shopping and prescriptions or simply for a friendly phone call.

Thanks to generous local support, the trust is also able to provide an offering from its well-stocked community food larder for hard-hit families.

Rebecca McFarlane, development officer at the trust, said: "We've been really impressed with the community effort in the village.

"There was a small group of volunteers who set up the response group, we've supported that and set up the food larder.

"But the numbers haven't been as high as we anticipated because people's neighbours have been helping and everyone has rallied around.

"It really has accentuated the community spirit of the village."

And with the lockdown set to continue for the foreseeable future, plans are being drawn up at the trust to provide more support in the community with further details to come.