A popular Royton couple who regularly transform their garden with a grand display are once again putting smiles on people's faces with their new NHS-themed scarecrows.

Kwok Wong and Julie Shervington put a lot of time and effort into their garden displays every season as they decorate the space to celebrate key events such as Remembrance Day, Christmas, Easter and other special occasions to do with the Royal family.

While many residents in Royton have got in the spooky spirit this Halloween for the town's first scarecrow festival, which is running from October 14 to October 31, Kwok and Julie's display is once again wowing residents.

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This year, the pair have put up an impressive hospital-themed display, with skeleton nurses and pumpkin patients as well as a huge 'thank you NHS' banner.

The quirky display, which is number 29 on the Royton scarecrow trail, has already proved popular among neighbours who have taken to social media to praise the couple's efforts.

Kwok said: "I'm so pleased with it - it's made so many people smile as they walk past, especially the school children.

"It took me and Julie two months to put this together and it was a lot harder than we thought.

"I bought the outfits from eBay and handmade the 'thank you NHS' sign by myself, cutting it with a jigsaw and then painting it.

"At the moment, I'm doing a few pumpkin carvings."

Yesterday, as Storm Babet battered Oldham, Kwok and Julie's poor scarecrows were also subject to a "good bashing".

He said: "But I get up every morning and put it all back again.

"Me and Julie really like putting up a display in our garden as it makes people smile.

"The school children say to me, 'Mr we love your garden and can't wait for your next display'."

The pair said they were inspired to create the NHS homage this year for a multitude of reasons, with Julie working for the NHS and since nurses worked so hard and "did extremely well" in the pandemic.

Kwok said they also wanted to say thanks to the service as Julie recently found a lump on her breast and the "NHS has been amazing".

On social media, a man wrote the display is "great work again by these two" while a mother said her children "point it out every day".

Others said they always look forward to the couple's garden display and some said the new NHS scarecrows are "the best" yet and encouraged them to "keep up the good work".

"I always walk past purposely to see all the four seasons you do", one comment read.

Another woman wrote: "You always do fab displays in your garden.

"I love walking past - keep up the good work to make us all smile."

Kwok and Julie's display is just one of 79 scarecrows to be seen along a trail in Royton this Halloween.

Maps are still available to purchase for a small donation of £2 from Co-op Royton, Bru'd Awakenin's or the Narrowgate Farm Shop.

Money raised through donations will be spent on buying Christmas gifts for local children and for elderly people struggling due to the cost of living crisis.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.