East Budleigh wins 'Best Kept Village' award

EAST Budleigh is celebrating winning an award in the Best Kept Village competition.

EAST Budleigh is celebrating winning an award in the Best Kept Village competition.

The village came out tops in the best past winner category after judges praised its continued community care.

East Budleigh beat past winner Witheridge to the winning title.

A spokesperson for the awards said: "East Budleigh was outstanding with noticeable improvements in the care of public amenities and private properties."

The competition, in its 39th year, is organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The winners each received �100 of Mole Valley Farmers tokens and a shield and board to display in the village.

The aim of the competition is to reward community spirit and picturesque charm.

The competition spokesperson said: "For some villages it becomes a source of pride to make sure that when the eagle-eyed judges come round everything is spick and span.

"All the villages are judged once and those with the highest marks are then judged again.

"Two judges then have the difficult task of judging the top three villages in each of the four categories."

The winners were as follows:

Best past winner:

East Budleigh

Runner-up: Witheridge

Best large village: Dunsford

Runner-up: Stoke Gabriel

Best small village: Clovelly

Runner-up: Athrington

New entry: Talaton

Runner-up: Thurlestone