SWINDON villages have turned their backs on the annual Best Kept Village Competition, with Blunsdon being the only one prepared to enter the event.

The contest is organised by the Wiltshire branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) with main sponsorship from Calor Gas and further support from the Evening Advertiser's sister paper, Gazette and Herald and other newspapers in the Newsquest Wiltshire group.

And in contrast to the Swindon area's poor response, 78 Wiltshire villages will be vying for the award.

George McDonic, chairman of Wiltshire CPRE, said the response was very satisfying, compared with last year's problems when the number competing was severely reduced due to foot and mouth.

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

Some 73 villages are in contention among the three classes for small, medium and large villages while five have entered the Laurence Kitching round for villages that have won during the last two years. Judging of the district rounds will take place this month with the final decisions being made in July.

The CPRE is also running a poster competition for five to 16-year-olds to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Wiltshire CPRE will also be nominating a village to take part in the Calor Gas Village of the Year for England and Wales.