BLUNSDON has been officially named the best-kept village in Wiltshire. It won the award in the annual Calor Gas Village of the Year competition, which is organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Blunsdon, which is north of Swindon off the A419, could now decide that it wants to go forward to the national award where the top prize is £6,000.

It beat off competition from 30 villages to pick up the large village certificate. Colin Shiner, the chairman of Blunsdon Parish Council, said: "I'm absolutely delighted about this.

"We have a part-time village caretaker who pulls up weeds and picks up rubbish, and Swindon Council is good at making sure our bins are emptied regularly.

"We do not have a formal committee but we discuss the competition at the parish council and put it in our newsletter so everyone does their best to keep the place clean."

The village of Aldbourne was a runner up to Blunsdon in the large village category.

Castle Coombe was the best kept medium sized village and Bishop-strow won the small village category. More than 90 villages entered the competition in total.

George McDonic, chairman of Wiltshire CPRE, said: "The judges were impressed by the general tidiness of Blunsdon, the gardens and churchyard were well kept.

"There was an air of well-being in the village and with them winning a few years ago it was nice to see them back up there."

Results:

Small Village: 1 Bishopstrow, near Warminister, 2 Upper and Lower Seagry, 3 Rushall, 4 Homington.

Medium Village: 1 Castle Combe, 2 Urchfont, 3 Steeple Ashton, 4 Barford St Martin.

Large Villages: 1 Blunsdon, 2 Atworth, 3 Aldbourne, 4 Colerne and Whiteparish.