TIME is running out to make sure your favourite is in with a chance in the Bendigo Advertiser Hay Bale Sculpture Competition with voting set to close at midday on Wednesday.

Michael Webb and James Coghlan's castle has jumped out to a 3.5 per cent lead, sitting on 28.5 per cent, followed by Maggie Coghlan's colourful caterpillar on 25 per cent.

Meanwhile the battle for third place is also hovering around a margin of 3.5 per cent with the jumbucks on 16 per cent and the teddy bears on 12.5 per cent.

The winning entry will receive return airfares for two adults and five nights at the Sun Island Legian Hotel and Spa, and five nights at the Santi Mandala Villas and Spa in Bali.

The $4500 prize is sponsored by Grogan's Machinery and Bendigo Travel and Cruise Centre.

Entries include Serpentine couple Prue and Luke Milgate's solar powered hay bale Christmas tree sculpture on the Loddon Valley Highway; Jenni Hedstrom and family's Mr and Mrs Claus on their Chanters Lane property in Tylden; Nicole and Darryl Laity's Christmas themed hay bale aeroplane at their Romsey Road property in Darraweit Guim; the Hernon family's water skiing and BMXing Santa in Allies Road, Maiden Gully; Narelle and Rodney Broom's Christmas tree and Christmas teddy bears on the Calder Highway near Collins Road; James Coghlan and Michael Webb's castle with drawbridge on the corner of Auchmore Road and the Loddon Valley Highway; Maggie and Frank Coghlan's Very Hungry Caterpillar on the Bridgewater-Raywood Road north of Bridgewater; Adam Turnbull and Steph Dolman's sheep, just around the bend on the same road; and Baelea Collins' SpongeBob SquarePants at the northern end of the Marong-Serpentine Road.