CHAPELTOWN residents are blooming with pride after being named the winners of the Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition.

The village's conservation society has entered the competition for the past seven years and its efforts have finally paid off.

Chairman Alec Bagley said: "I feel very pleased about this. It's a really special place, partly because of its setting as it's in a really nice spot.

"There is a really wonderful atmosphere and people have worked extremely hard to make this happen. Seven years ago, we were 39th out of 43 villages. So we have come a long way."

Special praise among the village's 700 residents has been given to the congregation of St Anne's Church, which spends every Saturday morning tending the rose garden in the church.

Local residents Gwen Franklin and Betty Holden have also been singled out for thanks. Mrs Franklin has spent her time tending the village garden and Mrs Holden's hanging baskets were described as a "marvel.

Mr Bagley said: "There are some people in the village who have been an absolute inspiration because the hard work they have put in voluntarily to make Chapeltown look lovely has encouraged others to do the same.

"Ramblers and visitors to the village have commented on how nice it looks and winning this title makes villagers take more pride in their surroundings and maintain them."

The village has been awarded £300 in garden centre vouchers to create a lasting feature to celebrate their achievements.

Ideas suggested by society members include at the garden at Four Lane Ends, on the grass at the entrance to Chapel Grange, at the children's playground next to the churchyard and in front of the village.

But the conservation society is appealing for other people with ideas about how to mark the achievement to come forward.

Mr Bagley can be contacted on 01204 852259 or by emailing him at alecbagley@onetel.com