ATWORTH has been named the best large village in Wiltshire in this year's Best Kept Village competition.

The village beat off the competition from Colerne, Ramsbury and Whiteparish in the contest, organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and supported by West Wiltshire District Council.

The judges were particularly impressed by the recreation ground, open spaces and verges and the well-presented and maintained private gardens in the village.

Cllr Ernie Clerk, the council's leisure and rural affairs portfolio holder, said: "My warmest congratulations go to Atworth it is wonderful that a west Wiltshire village has succeeded in this countywide competition.

"I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to keep Atworth at such a high standard."