THE bunting is up and the finishing touches are being put to the scarecrows — it must be Gunnislake Festival time again.

From August 3 to 6 there will be plenty going on in the village, from history and art exhibitions to dancing and displays and live music.

The festival began in 2001 as a celebration of the regeneration works carried out in the village and is now a very popular annual event.

Traditionally villagers have displayed scarecrows in their gardens and on their houses to add to the jollity and this year the recently formed Gunnislake Local Amateur Dramatics Society (GLAD) is planning to participate.

A village history exhibition in the public hall always creates a lot of interest and this year, on August 3, a special film, 'The Silent Valley', narrated by Angela Rippon and depicting the decline in the mining industry around the Tamar Valley, is being shown in the public hall.

After the traditional flora dance and children's fancy dress parade just before midday on the Saturday (August 6), the Dartmoor Border Morris, the Tavistock Twirlers majorette team, a falconry display, Punch and Judy, plus a variety of stalls, a Shelterbox display, a children's corner with a bouncy castle and plenty of live music from local bands, including Yorkie and Los Samba, will provide entertainment for the whole family.

In addition, local public houses put on a variety of events such as karaoke or a barbecue with live music each evening again a feature. Bands such as Jarka, Out to Grass, Doc Rox, Dave Rich and Yorkie will play in one or more of the four Gunnislake pubs over the four days of the festival.

There are two local history walks this year. The first is on August 4 at 6pm and takes in the churches, chapels and public houses of Gunnislake and the second is on August 5 at 6pm and covers the industrial archaeology of the river bank at Gunnislake. Throughout the four days there will also be an art exhibition in the local church.

Gunnislake Post Office has more details and a free festival programme.