A VILLAGE has shed its industrial image to win three awards in a North West environmental competition.

And the Parish Council of Hapton claims the win has stifled the laughter of other competitors who mocked members for entering the North West in Bloom contest.

Mrs Jo Garrigan clerk of Hapton Parish Council, said: "It is absolutely tremendously fantastic. We can't believe it."

Mrs Garrigan was at the Southport Flower Show to receive the Tidy Britain group awards as runner-up in the best small country town category, a commendation certificate for work with youngsters on community garden projects, and first place in the much improved town category.

She said: "We were really pleased to have won the first award, but then Hapton's name kept being mentioned and we just couldn't believe it. "It has been a lot of hard work, but these awards have made everything worthwhile."

The clerk also said work on building community gardens in the town on derelict patches of land was just the beginning. "Eventually Hapton will become a pretty little village."

Also claiming awards in the North West competition was the village of Chipping. The village was runner-up in the best large village contest and the Gibbon Bridge Hotel won the best large hotel award.

James Berry, vice chairman of the Parish Council said: "We are very pleased with that.

"We have a lot of very good people in Chipping who have helped us keep the village so tidy."

Padiham was also placed in the much improved category, collecting third prize in the contest.

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