CRADLEY was among five finalists in the national Calor Village of the Year competition, losing out to Derbyshire village Ashover.

However, residents of the Worcesteshire village are celebrating after it was named West England regional and Defra Building Community Life winner at a ceremony in London on Tuesday.

Judi Creed-Newton, who organised Cradley's winning bid, was presented with certificates and prize money of £2,250 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Knightsbridge, by celebrity gardener Alan Tichmarsh.

Also at the ceremony was Mrs Creed-Newton's husband David, chairman of Cradley Parish Council, and Leominster MP Bill Wiggin.

Mrs Creed-Newton said: "The awards don't just happen. They're the result of consistent hard work, enthusiastic people and willing volunteers working together on issues that benefit the community."

Cradley beat villages from all over the West of England to be named regional winner and enter the final as one of the top five villages in the country.

Mrs Creed-Newton described the competition as "very tense and exciting," and said the village was "absolutely thrilled," to win two regional titles.

National competition finalists were judged on five criteria - building community life, business, environment, younger people and older people, with a separate category for information communications technology.

Cradley got through to the national finals after winning Herefordshire Village of the Year and Building Community Life titles in the summer.

Mrs Creed-Newton is now looking forward to next year's competition.

"We intend to go forward and build on our success in the future. Well done Cradley," she said.