ASHTON Keynes celebrated winning Wiltshire's best-kept village competition with the help of the county's Lord Lieutenant, Sir Maurice Johnston. He unveiled a plaque in Church Walk to honour the achievement.

Organised by the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the competition involved the parish council submitting a written presentation on what is best about the village.

Parish council chairman, Carol Ames, 53, of High Road, said: "We have a lot of facilities here in the village where the young and old mix together very well.

"The judges who came to have a look at the village saw how neat and tidy the place was and how many clubs and societies we have here.

"It is really a picture postcard village that has grown enormously over the past few years we are all very honoured to receive this award."

Ashton Keynes has now been entered in the national best-kept village competition, the winners of which will be announced later this year.