JUDGES from Lancashire's Best Kept Village Competition this week named Barley as the winner of the small village class.

The pretty Pendleside village heads a list of local successes in the the Community Council of Lancashire's annual contest.

Winewall, Colne, won the most improved small village category, and Worsthorne, another of the small village entries, was highly commended, with two buildings - the Crooked Billet pub and Wallstreams nursing home - picked out by judges for special praise. Barley's popular picnic area was also highly commended.

Pendle, and Pendleside in particular, has greatly impressed judges. They chose Pendle Valley caravan park in Roughlee as runner-up in its class. Wycoller's toilets were highly commended.

Barley will receive the coveted Robinson Cup, a wayside seat and a commemorative plaque.

The village beat off stiff competition from Arkholme, near Lancaster, Grindleton in the Ribble Valley, and Churchtown, Wyre.

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