Best village winners' triumph
Villagers in Weston, near Stafford, were able to celebrate a home win in the annual Staffordshire Best Kept Village Competition.
The village triumphed as best overall large village for the third year in a row and the fifth time in 10 years last night at Weston Village Hall to cheers from the many villagers who turned out.
The title of best small village went to Harlaston, near Tamworth.
Mavis Willing, chairman of the Weston committee, said they were "absolutely delighted" to have completed a hat-trick of county titles.
"We have never come first overall when the result has been announced in Weston before. It is a very special evening for us. The whole village has been involved this year," she said.
The 52nd annual competition attracted 59 entries - including eight new ones - and Peter Jackson, chairman of the Community Council of Staffordshire's best kept village working group, congratulated all the entrants on coping with this summer's appalling weather.
He said it had been the closest competition ever and the standards was rising and it was becoming increasingly difficult to judge.
Community council chief executive Chris Welch said the competition was playing an important role in building community spirit.
The Express & Star Trophy for the South Staffordshire district went to Coven, which also won the best large village. Bishops Wood won in the district small village category.
Brewood and Coven parish councillor Yvonne Millward said they were delighted to have won the trophy for the third year in a row.
"Our team of 20 people has been out all through the year. It is a real thrill to win again. Everyone has worked so hard. The weather was a bit of a problem, but we went out litter-picking between the showers," she said.
Weston also won the Stafford district trophy, sponsored by Rubery Owen Holdings, with Tixall winning for best small village.
In the Lichfield and Cannock district, Harlaston was the trophy and best small village winner with Longdon and Longdon Green the best large village.
A new competition was also held this year for children to design a best kept village poster.
The five to seven-year-old category was won by Ellie May Bache from Kinver with the eight-to-11 winner Caitlin Begley from Gnosall.
