PICTURESQUE south Wiltshire villages Ansty, Hindon and Whiteparish are reaping the benefits of true community spirit.

They are all winners in the district round of this year's Wiltshire's Best Kept Village competition, organised by the Wiltshire branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England and sponsored by Calor gas.

Ansty scooped Best Kept Village in South Wilts in the small category, Hindon in the medium category and Whiteparish in the large category.

All will now go on to the county round, where the best villages in all three categories will be decided.

The competition focuses on community spirit, as highlighted by a cared-for village environment, and celebrates communities pulling together for the benefit of all residents.

Branch chairman of Wiltshire CPRE George McDonic said: "We had a great response to the competition this year, with more than 60 villages entering.

"Once again, the standard was very high and the judges had a tough time choosing the district winners.

Mr McDonic and his team now have the difficult task of choosing one village from the 12 district winners to go forward to represent Wiltshire in the south and south-east England region of the national Calor Village of the Year competition.

The contest involves 45 counties across England and Wales and has a total prize fund of £37,000.

Wiltshire's nominees will be judged in October by Calor's regional judges, along with villages from Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent and Sussex, which will all have the chance of winning £10,500 in prize money.