VILLAGES in Chiltern district have done well in this year's Best Kept Village Competition.

More than 38 villages took part in the competition designed to reward residents for looking after their environment. Judges even take into account the up-keep of phone boxes and notice boards.

Out of the 12 cups to be won, villages in the Chilterns scooped three.

Chenies won the Gurney Cup, Coleshill came runner up in the Morris Cup and Chalfont St Peter was runner up in the Pushman Cup. The villages receive a trophy and a wrought iron sign.

Competition chairman Richard Pushman said: "It never ceases to amaze me how the standard is raised year after year. All entries in this year's competition were of a high standard and showed the enthusiasm of communities to improve their environment. Particularly notable this year was the absence of litter."

There was disappointment for Old Amersham which failed to win the Michaelis Cup, even after residents went on a cleaning purge to impress the judges.

Amersham town councillor Davida Allen (Lib Dem, Amersham Town) who joined others last month for the spring clean said she was disappointed they didn't win.

She said: "Well of course we would have loved to have won. The standard was extremely high and I have to say that although we did a good job litter has appeared ever so quickly and we just couldn't go back to do it.

She added: "I do love the Old Town and I want to flaunt it but it really needed a concentrated effort from everybody."