Local groups and volunteers in Cliffsend are putting the final touches to the first Celebration of Life weekend being held in the village over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The project brings together the residents’ association, the village hall committee, the church, the Women’s Institute, the youth club, the gardening club and many volunteers.

The fun weekend, which runs from Saturday to Bank Holiday Monday, will include an art exhibition, a floral art display, open gardens, Songs of Praise in the church, a May Queen and Miss Rosebud competition as well as six-a-side football on the village green.

Villagers will be decorating their gardens with scarecrows based on the theme of nursery rhymes.

The May Queen will be chosen from girls living in the village aged between 11 and 14 and take place in the village hall from 10am on Bank Holiday Monday. The Miss Rose Bud competition will also be open to girls living in Cliffsend who are aged between eight and 10 and this competition will start at 11am.

The football fun and games will commence at noon on Bank Holiday Monday – contact Maureen Fiander on 01843 853857 for more details on this and the May Queen and Rose Bud competitions.