COMPETITION is hotting up for the title of Wiltshire's best kept village. This year's battle of the blooms has attracted nearly 70 entries.

Among the villages entered are Lydiard Millicent, Brinkworth, Broad Hinton, Winterbourne Bassett, Blunsdon and Mildenhall.

The contest is organised by the Wiltshire branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

George McDonic, chairman of the branch, said: "There is a lot of community pride at stake, and we expect that standards will be high again.

"This year's entries are consistent with the strong support the competition has enjoyed for many years from Wiltshire's rural communities."

The 69 villages which have been entered will be split into three classes - small, medium and large.

Judges will be casting a critical eyes over hundreds of hanging baskets, neatly mown village greens and impeccably trimmed hedges this month.

The winners will be announced in late July after a final round of judging.

Judges will be looking for villagers who care about their neighbourhoods.

They will also be rewarding communities which have made the best of their surroundings.

The Wiltshire CPRE will then nominate one entry to go forward to the national Village of the Year for England Wales contest.

Around 40 villages usually make it through to the final.

Calor Gas, which sponsors the contest, has increased the prize money for this year's competition.

The top prize is £6,000, with £1,500 going to each of six regional winners.

www.villageoftheyearorg