MARKET Lavington and Erlestoke are to compete for the first time in the Wiltshire Best Kept Village competition, helping to swell the entry to 78.

The contest is organised by the Wiltshire branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England with sponsorship from Calor Gas, and further support from the Gazette and Herald and other newspapers in the Newsquest Wiltshire group.

George McDonic, chairman of Wiltshire CPRE, described the response as very satisfying.

Last year the competition experienced many problems when the number of villages competing was severely reduced due to the foot and mouth outbreak.

He said: "Our numbers are back to what we would expect and it is always very pleasing to see new entrants competing for the first time."

Some 73 villages are in contention among the three classes for small, medium and large villages while five previous winners Alderbury and Whaddon, Grittleton, Milton Lilbourne, Seagry and Steeple Ashton have entered the Laurence Kitching round for villages that have won during the last two years.

District judging will take place this month with final judging in July. Results are announced in late July and the presentations have been fixed for October 6.

To mark the Queen's golden jubilee, the branch is running a poster competition for children aged five to 16.

The theme is 'What is special in my village in jubilee year'. Entries have to be in by May 31.

Wiltshire CPRE will also be nominating a village to take part in the Calor Gas Village of the Year for England and Wales, annually contested by more than 40 villages drawn from competitions in the two countries. Villages competing in the 2002 Wiltshire Best Kept Village competition are:

West Wiltshire small: Bishopstrow, Brokerswood, Coulston, Chitterne, Great Hinton. Medium: Heytesbury, Horningsham, Edington, Shaw, Sutton Veny, Whitley. Large: Atworth, Bratton, Holt, North Bradley, Bowerhill.

North Wiltshire small: Goatacre, Leigh, Hilmarton, Marston Meysey, Yatesbury. Medium: Castle Combe, Charlton, Cherhill, Christian Malford, Dauntsey, Lea, Little Somerford, Sutton Benger, Yatton Keynell, Kington Langley. Large: Ashton Keynes, Box, Brinkworth, Colerne, Hullavington.

Kennet small: Marston, Erlestoke, Ham, Stert, Winterbourne Bassett, Rushall. Medium: All Cannings, Broad Hinton, Collingbourne Kingston, Easterton, Manton, Mildenhall, Poulshot, Urchfont. Large: Aldbourne, Bromham, Burbage, Great Bedwyn, Market Lavington, Netheravon, Rowde, Seend.

Salisbury/South Wiltshire small: Burcombe, Homington, Teffont, West Dean, Ansty, Tollard Royal. Medium: Barford St Martin, Coombe Bissett, Fovant, Hindon, Dinton, Tilshead. Large: Bulford, Whiteparish.

Swindon borough large: Blunsdon.