Lawrence of Arabia, Winston Churchill and Lord Kichener were all on hand to help celebrate the centenary year of Cottage Farm Allotments in Heartsease at the weekend.

The Plumstead Road East allotments' community came together for an open day, scarecrow festival and celebratory barbecue on Saturday and Sunday.

There were 35 entries into the scarecrow competition, spanning the different decades since the allotments were opened in 1912.

Neil Thomas represented the allotments' first decade with his Lord Kichener scarecrow and Liam and Lisa Hannon's entry of Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men represented the 1960s and won the childrens' scarecrow competition.

The youngsters' parents, Michelle and Chris Hannon, are currently working an allotment which has been in the continuous occupation of their family since 1912, with Liam and Lisa the fifth generation associated with the plot.

The open day was opened by local gardening expert Alan Gray, with organiser Bob Whitworth saying: 'The open day was our most successful to date and was very well received by the public.

'The wonderful fruit cake was a surprise gift from one of our association members, Tara Taylor, and this helped to set the seal on an extremely enjoyable barbecue on the Sunday.'