STUDLEY has been slammed as "sad and neglected", by judges from the Warwickshire Heart of England in Bloom competition.

The village failed to maintain its bronze award status, let alone improve on it, after visiting judges criticised the number of derelict buildings and the litter and weeds.

According to Studley in Bloom organiser Justin Sayers, officials complimented the flowers in the village, but it was not enough to scoop an award.

"We put in more flowers this year but we were let down by the litter, weeds and sheer number of derelict buildings.

"They noted bad grass cutting, destroyed bins, lack of recycling bins and the old Co-op site - we weren't even good enough to reach bronze.

"They said we are a sad and neglected village and in many ways I have to agree."

He added: "The judges also said that we didn't have enough permanent sites of greenery and we needed to plant more trees."

But Mr Sayers said he hoped the criticism would be used as a turning point for the village.

"Maybe this is the wake-up call we need and will encourage people in the village to get involved and make it a pleasant place to work and visit.

"We have a lot of good groups working to improve the village but we need to pull together rather than work separately."

He added: "I also want to see more young people get involved and hope schools will encourage it.

"The new headteacher at the high school is keen to encourage pupils to take a greater role in the community."

Studley Parish Council clerk Dot Mitchell expressed her disappointment at the verdict of the competition judges.

"Studley will never be classed as a "pretty" village but a lot of people spend a great deal of their free time trying to make the village look better.

"It is their efforts that have been ignored. Over the last few years the look of the village has steadily improved and will continue to do so.

"Unfortunately with the Co-op site in the centre of the village it is such a mess that until the area is tidied up the village does look neglected.

"The parish council together with the library service and Studley in Bloom has improved the library quadrangle despite problems with mindless vandals pulling out the flowers in the planters."