The wait is almost over for communities across the county with the winners of the 2015 Dorset Best Village Competition set to be revealed next week.
The awards evening is being held at Puddletown Village Hall on Thursday, September 17.

The Dorset Echo backed competition has been running since 1987.

Six years ago Magna Housing Association signed up as the major sponsor for the competition and continues to support the event.

This year’s entries have been judged throughout the summer.

Competition organiser Rita Burden said it had been a 'privilege' to go round visiting all the villages and she was impressed by the standard on show.

She said: "Once again we have been privilege to visit and judge villages which positively encourages the protection of our precious environment.

"Village litter picks, pollution free streams and ponds, protecting wildlife habitat and the planting of trees and wild flower areas – these initiatives gain the highest marks from judges."

Magna group chief executive Graham Colls added: "Magna is once again pleased to support this event. which does so much in Dorset to encourage people to be proud of their villages and to build community spirit."

In addition to usual Best Village categories, there will be further special awards on the night including the People's Project award for the village judged to have entered the best project involving local active people.

Other awards include Best Environment for the village judged to be doing the ‘greenest’ project and for the second year there will be a prize for the Best Village Shop, sponsored by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

This year Magna Housing will also be making a special £200 Neighbourliness Award to the group of people who have done the most to look out for their neighbours and improve the community where they live.

The full results of the competition will be released at 9pm on Thursday, September 17.

Other organisations supporting the competition include Dorset County Council and local district councils, Clipper Tea, Thomas Fudge’s Remarkable Biscuits, Honeybuns, Craig’s Dairies, Puddletown Village Stores and Helen Furness Catering.