RURAL life is alive and well in an award winning village, as it prepares to battle for another national title.

Edington was crowned champion in the 1999 Calor Village of the Year awards and now has the chance to add another feather to its cap.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the competition Calor has invited the previous winners to compete in a one-off best of the best' event.

Suzanne Weir, Calor Village of the Year manager, hopes that the competition will give past winners a chance to shine the spotlight on themselves once again.

The competition will be judged on six categories: community life, business, younger people, older people, environment and Information Communication Technology.

Edington parish councillor, David Perkins, believes the strength of the village lies in the fact that the community pulls together. When people get together things happen," he said.

Newcomers are welcomed with a pack, which lists helpful information such as village events, organisations and footpaths, and they are also invited to a newcomer's coffee morning.

The village boasts a number of organisations, among them Edington Village Environmental Squad, the Edington Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee, Edington Friendly Circle, a WI group and a garden club.

EVES meets every month and tends to the footpaths, stiles and gates and organise litter-picking days.

ERLA is an independent forum for ideas, where members of different groups can discuss issues relating to the village.

Edington Parish Council gives active support to the younger members of the village and was one of the first villages in the area to build a skate park.

The positive aspects of the village were summed up by John Bennett, chairman of the Friendly Circle, on receiving the honour of Calor Village of the Year in 1999.

"Edington is not a rich village financially, but it's the richest I've ever come across in terms of caring for others and facilities for all ages," he said.

The winning village will receive a prize of £20,000, which Mr Perkins hopes will go towards a footpath linking the two halves of the villages.

The village has recently launched its own website which can be found at www.freewebs.com/edingtonvillage/