SO FAR this summer, families have hunted for scarecrows in Chalford, cows in Amberley and gnomes in Eastcombe.

Now dozens of monkeys have escaped from Uplands Primary School in Stroud – and there is a trail to find them this weekend.

“We love all the local trails and thought it was time there was one in Uplands,” said organiser Gillian Holmes.

“In fact there are two trails to cover the whole of Uplands, a down the hill one which takes in some of the older part of the area and an up the hill one which leads you through the newer houses and some rural parts.

“Cuddly monkeys, blow-up monkeys and even a Banksy monkey are hidden alongside a letter for each one which solves a puzzle on the trail map.”

The first correct trail to be picked out of the hat on Monday wins tickets to the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford where there are real monkeys.

There are lots of stickers, colouring sheets and runner-up prizes plus cream teas and Winstones Ice Cream available in the school hall.

The trail coincides with the school’s annual Summer Sizzle, starting at 2pm on Saturday, and there will be lots of attractions. Proceeds all go to school funds.

Trail maps and cream teas are available at the school from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Fellow organiser Amanda Andrews added: “We’re really grateful to the Cotswold Wildlife Park for donating the first prize tickets and to Winstones and Vizual Impact of Bristol for their help with ice cream and stickers.”