The village set up a special committee last November called Mickleton in Bloom to co-ordinate efforts for this year.

"We're pleased our entry has been accepted," said secretary Iris Fawcett. "We've looked at every aspect of the village and really gone to town.

"We've bought plant troughs and horse troughs and put them around the town, put on concerts and tea dances at the village hall, set up a website - www.mickletoninbloom.co.uk - and tidied up the Plantation area. We are also looking at setting up an Internet café for youngsters."

The villages are being judged on categories covering community life, business, young people, older people, the environment, IT, and the health and safety of the villages.

The results of the competition will be revealed at an awards event taking place on Friday, July 20.

GRCC chief executive, Lesley Archer, said: "We are really pleased with the number and standard of entries received, with seven new villages entering this year.

"First indications are that we have some very strong contenders."

The village crowned the 2007 Calor Gloucestershire Village of the Year will represent the county in the Calor Village of the Year for England competition.

The other competing villages are: Ashleworth, Bourton,Chedworth, Clearwell, Corse, Down Ampney, Dymock, English Bicknor, Highnam, Minchinhampton, Painswick, Poulton, Sandhurst, Withington and Fairford.

Cotswold Journal 28th June 2007