WITH only 700 residents, no village shop and limited amenities, Pebworth has shown how to make the best of what it has got.

No less than 30 different groups use the village hall, ranging from Scouts, WI and seniors' club to bellringers, clog dancers and a Morris side. The go-ahead village has just installed a £50,000 adventure playground and is in the process of building a £220,000 pre-school extension on the village school.

At Martley, there is a website, www.Martley.org.uk and the village now has its own broadband provider, a non-profit making organisation called Martley Mesh.

It is an innovative scheme, started this year, to install and maintain broadband locally at a lower cost than national prices.

The website includes links to Martley organisations, a virtual footpath tour and interactive features, while the local Neighbourhood Watch has developed an E-Watch system to keep members informed by e-mail.

The school, church, village hall committee and Royal British Legion at Cradley have worked together on the £170,000 restoration of the 15th Century village hall.

It was hit by fire in September 2003, but the damage was repaired as the programme continued. The hall now contains a Heritage Centre and Community Resource Centre, providing computers with broadband connection.

The village has a web site www.cradley.org.uk, a newly formed active youth club and recently held a successful two-day country fair.