HERTFORDSHIRE'S reigning village of the year has pulled out all the stops in a bid to retain its crown. Judges descended on Woolmer Green on Tuesday to meet parish councillors and see what the place has to offer. Parish council chairman Judith Watson told

HERTFORDSHIRE'S reigning village of the year has pulled out all the stops in a bid to retain its crown.

Judges descended on Woolmer Green on Tuesday to meet parish councillors and see what the place has to offer.

Parish council chairman Judith Watson told the WHT she thought they had a great chance of keeping the prestigious title for the second successive year.

She said: "We do so much here and have so many things going on.

"It's a fantastic village.

"I think we stand a very good chance of winning this year. We're very positive about it."

Parish councillor Michael Burge, who is responsible for Woolmer Green's appearance, said: "This village is great, because everybody here works together.

"In just one year, we've had a new allotment society, a new village store and we are running initiatives all the time."

The judges were also shown around St Michael's Primary School by pupils Owen Grosvenor, 10, and 11-year-old Niamh Cloona.

And there was also a presentation by 15-year-old James Mansell, who lives in Longsmead and is a youth representative for the parish council.

* JUST over three weeks remain for villages to get their entries in for this year's contest.

Entrants are judged across four areas of rural village life, including community, business, sustainability and communication.

The focus this time will echo the G20 meeting between world leaders, focusing on village communities pulling together to help each other through good times and bad.

The competition is run by CPRE - The Herfordshire Society and sponsored by Calor.

Winners will be declared for the east, west and north of the county - each getting �250.

One of these will also be declared the overall winner, and go on to represent Hertfordshire for the national title.

For entry forms, call Jo Simson on 01438 717587, email jo@cpreherts.org.uk or download from www.cpreherts.org.uk

Submissions must be made before April 28.