RESIDENTS of Suffolk's Village of the Year gathered at the weekend to celebrate their victory in traditional style – with a glass of beer.Wortham, which had already won the Mid Suffolk village of the year competition, went on to win the county title.

RESIDENTS of Suffolk's Village of the Year gathered at the weekend to celebrate their victory in traditional style - with a glass of beer.

Wortham, which had already won the Mid Suffolk village of the year competition, went on to win the county title.

A cheque for £600, a plaque, a certificate and three trees were handed over on Saturday by Paul Quantrill of Calor, the company which sponsors the competition, organised by the Suffolk Association of Local Councils (SALC).

Charles Michell , chairman of Mid Suffolk District Council, also presented parish council chairman, Sarah Day, with a cheque, certificate and plaque for winning the district competition.

Victory in the county competition was toasted with free beer donated by Southwold brewer, Adnams.

Villagers are being consulted over what to do with the prize money and where to plant the trees, donated by Notcutts.

Runner-up in this year's competition, sponsored by Calor, was Wenhaston which won a cheque for £350 and also the £100 Conservation Award, donated by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

Wickham Market came third, winning £250, and parish council of the year was judged to be Clare.

Mary Mitson-Woods, chief executive of SALC, told the gathering of 150 people in Wortham Village Hall that the quality of entries had improved immensely during the past five years.

"Parish councils are now working for their communities to provide services and support to a very high standard," she said.

There had been only a few point between the first three villages this year.

Today judges are due to visit Wortham in connection with the national Village of the Year competition.