THE Ribble Valley has swept the board in this year's Lancashire Best Kept Village awards.

The area scooped seven first place awards and 21 runners-up and highly commended accolades in the competition, seeing off rivals from more than 120 villages in the county.

Knowle Green succeeded out of 24 entries to win the Granada TV Trophy in the Best Kept Hamlet class, with representatives to also receive a commemorative plaque.

In the Best Kept Church or Chapel category St Peter and St Paul RC Church, Ribchester, was the winner of the Blackburn Diocesan award out of 75 entries, with highly commended accolades given to St Bartholomew's Church, Chipping; St Leonard's Church, Old Langho; and St James's Church, Whitechapel.

And in the Best Kept Village Hall or Community Building category, first prize was awarded to West Bradford Village Hall, with representatives to collect the Bryning with Warton Trophy. Bashall Eaves Village Hall was also highly commended in this category.

Teachers, parents and pupils at St Mary's RC School, Sabden, were delighted that their hard work paid off, with the school receiving the Best Kept School and Grounds award, and will receive the LEA Trophy for their efforts.

Sabden was also praised for its village toilets, winning the Pemberton Trophy, with Hurst Green and Waddington also commended in the Best Kept Public Toilet section.

And in the Best Kept Bowling Green and Surrounds category, the Ribble Valley took all the awards, with Whitechapel Bowling Club winning the Jack Dobson Cup, and highly commended awards going to Hurst Green and Waddington Bowling Clubs and Sabden Crown Green Bowling Club.

In the schools sections, St Mary's RC Primary, Chipping, was awarded the BNFL Trophy in the Key Stage 1 section and was highly commended in the Lower Junior, Lower Key Stage 2 and the Upper Junior, Upper Key Stage 2 categories.

Clitheroe Town Council received a highly commended award in the Best Kept Village Notice Board category, along with Grindleton Parish Council, beating off entries from over 50 towns and villages.

Corbridge Court at Clitheroe and Hospital Cottages, Waddington, were highly commended in the Best Kept Sheltered Accommodation section, with Chipping Post Office, J&S Cropper, Sabden; and West Bradford Post Office all receiving highly commended awards in the Best Kept Shop category.

And in the Best Kept Inn or Public House section, The Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton, was highly commended. Dunsop Bridge was also highlighted in the Best Kept War Memorial category.

A spokesperson for the Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition said: "The competition is the largest of its kind in the country, and the Ribble Valley has certainly made its mark. The awards reflect well on commmunity spirit in the Ribble Valley and countywide".

The winners and runners-up will receive their awards from organisers Community Futures and sponsors Chorley and District Building Society at a ceremony at Bilsborrow Village Hall tomorrow. (Saturday).