THE cream of Dorset's villages were celebrated at an awards ceremony last night.

There was a record number of 55 entries in last night's Dorset Village of the Year Awards competition held at Pimperne Village Hall.

Representatives from winning villages were presented with certificates and prizes, and residents were praised for their hard work in keeping communities tidy and well maintained.

Competition organiser Frank Cade said: "The standard has gone up and the entries were absolutely excellent. It was a real pleasure visiting and judging villages."

Charminster scooped first place in the best community village competition for large villages and was chosen to represent Dorset in the regional finals.

Second position went to Child Okeford and third was achieved by Puddletown.

In the small villages section, Piddlehinton was judged the best, followed by Studland and Tincleton.

Sturminster Marshall came first in the large villages class of the best-kept village competition. Second place was gained by Broadmayne and West Lulworth was third.

Askerswell won the top slot in the small villages section, followed by Tincleton and Bradford Peverell. Winners in these categories were presented with plaques from Dorset County Council.

Martinstown scooped the Dorset Echo award in the previous winners' class for large villages and Wootton Fitzpaine was judged best in the small villages section.

Winterbourne Steepleton was the best-kept hamlet and the award in the previous winners' class went to Loders.

South Dorset MP Jim Knight presented the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) building community life award to a representative from Broadmayne.