The winners of the 2011 Dorset Best Village Competition will be revealed at a presentation even-ing on Thursday, September 22.

The awards include the Best Kept Village, which has been organised by Dorset Community Action since 1987. Last year Magna, Dorset’s largest Housing Assoc-iation, became the major sponsor for the competition and has renewed its support in 2011.

Additional sponsorship comes from Dorset County Council, the four district councils, the Dorset Echo, Dorset Magazine and Western Gazette, along with local food producers Clipper Tea, Fudges Biscuits, Honey-buns, Craig’s Dairies and Helen Furness Catering.

Judging of the 42 entries has gone on through the summer. Competition organiser Stan Wood said: “The judges have been impressed by the villages taking part and many of them have achieved some extremely high marks. “Work is needed all through the year to maintain this level, such as on-going maintenance of the village hall, play area, churchyard and regular litter picks. “The benefits of this competition are to encourage community action in competing villages, to reach the high standards the judges demand and then to be rewarded for those efforts.”

Ian Bullock, chairman of Magna Housing Association, said: “We are very pleased to be sponsoring this competition for a second year. “Magna is about so much more than housing, and building communities is central to what we do.

“Everyone who has taken part in this competition has helped to make their village a great place to live and that, in turn, helps build strong communities.”

There will also be two special awards on the night; ‘The People’s Project’ – the village judged to have entered the best project involving local active people and ‘Best Environment’ - the village judged to be doing the most ‘Green’ initiatives.

The presentation ceremony will take place at Frampton village hall.