Village on a winning streak

Residents in Coven have been officially presented with their Best Kept Village award, as organisers praised the efforts of villagers who helped it triumph for the fifth year in a row.

Coven was once again handed the Express & Star and South Staffordshire Housing Association award for Best Large Village the district.

This year's competition, the 54th, attracted entries from 63 villages across Staffordshire.

Each year villagers roll up their sleeves to make sure the village looks immaculate ready for a visit from judges.

Residents have worked tirelessly by pruning hedges, organising litter picks and planting beautiful blooms.

Judges commended Coven this year on its posters and noticeboards, local information, neat and tidy churchyard, immaculate village hall grounds, poignant war memorial and open spaces.

Yvonne Millward, aged 71, of Sunset Close in Coven, helps to co-ordinate the village's entry in the competition. "We have got a good solid team, it is an all year thing, the community really pulls in including the young people," she said.

The Express & Star has sponsored the competition for nearly 40 years.