WEST Dorset cleaned up at the Dorset Best Village Competition with Martinstown, Loders and Winterbourne Steepleton scooping the top awards.
Winners of the Dorset Echo-backed competition, now in its 28th year, were announced at a ceremony this evening.
The contest, organised by Dorset Community Action, aims to boost community pride and celebrate the good work that goes on in villages.
This year, Martinstown picked up first prize for Best Large Village, Loders scooped the top prize for Best Small Village and Winterbourne Steepleton won Best Hamlet.
West Dorset success continued with Charmouth’s Shoreline Magazine winning the People’s Project Award.
Winning the large village award is a boost for Martinstown which has seen a drastic reduction in its bus service.
Parish councillor David Reed said a group had been formed in the village to fight to get an improved bus service in the Winterbourne Valley .
He added: "We're obviously thrilled to win. We've actually been winners before in this competition.
"It's nice to know all the hard work that gets done has been recognised.
"There's good community spirit in the village."
There were more than 50 entries to the various categories this year.
Judges, who travelled more than 800 miles visiting different communities, said the standard was again very high and in general villages had presented themselves very well.
However, organiser and judge Rita Burden said there seemed to be an increase in litter this year.
"We are fully aware of the burden this puts on parish councils to try and keep on top of the problem," she said.
Mrs Burden added: "You're all to be congratulated for the love and care you put into your villages.
"We saw flower festivals, open gardens, a scarecrow competition, fetes, and an increasing amount of telephone kiosks being used for book swaps.
"Keep up the good work."
The presentation evening was held at Morden Village Hall in Morden, near Bere Regis and attended by many villagers as well as council officials and invited guests including Graham Colls, group chief executive of the competition's main sponsor, Magna Housing Association.
He said: "People around the world are fighting to get what is on display tonight in abundance - a sense of purpose, a sense of common endeavour, a sense of community."
In addition to usual Best Village categories, there were three special awards. ‘The People’s Project’ - the village judged to have entered the best project involving local active people. This year the winner was Charmouth with its “Shoreline” community magazine.
Meanwhile the ‘Best Environment’ category - the village judged to be doing the best ‘Green’ initiative saw Alderholt “Village Pond” project come out on top.
A new category introduced this year for the first time “Best Village Shop” and sponsored by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) resulted in Winfrith Newburgh Village Stores and Post Office being declared the winner.
The Dorset Echo sponsors the Previous Winners Awards. The small village winner was Shipton Gorge and the large village winner was Pimperne.
Additional sponsorship for the competition comes from Dorset County Council, the four district councils, Dorset Magazine, Blackmore Vale Magazine, along with local food producers and associated businesses Clipper Tea, Thomas J.Fudge’s Biscuits, Honeybuns, Craig’s Dairies, Helen Furness Catering and the Co-op.
BEST VILLAGE AWARDS 2014 - WINNERS
Large Village Award
Winner Martinstown
Joint 2nd Alderholt and Sturminster Marshall
Small Village Award
Winner Loders
Runner up Puncknowle
Third Wootton Fitzpaine
Hamlets Award
Winner Winterbourne Steepleton
Runner up Melcombe Horsey
People’s Project Award
Winner Charmouth - Shoreline Magazine
Joint runners up Briantspuddle - Coffee Shop, Milborne St Andrew - Bus 2 Go
Environmental Champions Award
Winner Alderholt - Village Pond
Runner-up Shipton Gorge - Saunders Richardson Wood
Best Village Shop
Winner Winfrith Village Stores
Runner up Iwerne Minster Village Stores
Previous Winners Small Village
Winner Shipton Gorge
Runner up Tarrant Monkton
Previous Winners Large Village
Winner Pimperne
Runner up Winterborne Kingston
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