SHERSTON will be hitting the airwaves again next week as it battles out to be the country's best village in a new Channel 4 programme.

Village of the Year will air at 3pm every day next week, but Sherston will make its debut appearance on Friday.

It will see Sherston up against four other villages all vying for a spot in the semi-final and to be in with a chance of winning £10,000.

Parish councillor Martin Smith nominated Sherston to appear on the TV show, and in the summer Channel 4 and judge Patrick Grant, presenter of The Great British Sewing Bee, came to find out what Sherston has to offer.

Cllr Smith, said: "I've lived in the village about 28 years, and there has always been a good sense of community in the village. There are quite a few groups of people that work hard to put on various events and activities.

"I am very excited and a little bit nervous, we wanted to show Sherston in the best possible way."

Producers were particularly interested in how much of a big part boules has to play in the village, filming the game at The Rattlebone Inn and even returning to see what all the fuss was about for the annual boules battle.

"I think it stemmed from our boules fanaticism", former chairman of Sherston Boules and Carnival, James Pyle, explained. "I hope they captured the essence of the day as best they can and I hope Sherston and Wiltshire shone through as one of the better places to live.

"It was nice to be recognised as part of their competition.

"I am honoured to have Channel 4 follow our day, it is a big day for everyone. It shows people can pull together in the community and get a little-known place on the map."

Patrick Grant, who had the pleasure of judging Sherston, said: "I was privileged to spend time in many incredibly beautiful villages whilst filming Village of the Year, but Sherston ranks amongst the best of them. The architecture is stunning.

"I'm competitive, really competitive, so put me on a boule piste and I'm a happy man. There can't be many better ways to spend a summers evening with pints and petanque and a local sausage or two from Paul and Gail's Village Store smothered in Tracklements wholegrain."

There will be a peak time showing of the programme every Saturday at 8pm, with the winner of Village of the year being crowned on Saturday, February 10 at 8pm.