THE picturesque village of Inkberrow has scooped the title of Worcestershire Village of the Year 2006.

It received the top accolade in the Calor Village of the Year competition after being assessed in a number of categories including business, young people, older people, the environment and information computer technology (ICT).

Inkberrow was also declared the winner of the Building Community Life section of the competition, scooping prize money of £500.

As 2006 Worcestershire Village of the Year, Inkberrow will now go forward to compete for the national title where there will be the chance to win a slice of £39,000.

It will compete against 40 other villages and will be initially judged against those in Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

Inkberrow Parish Council clerk Janet Cresswell said: "We are all absolutely thrilled to have been named Worcestershire Village of the Year.

"We all love Inkberrow and are very proud of what has been achieved here, but it's always nice that other people acknowledge it.

"When the judges came to assess the village, there was torrential rain, despite all the lovely weather we'd had previously.

"But the judges saw past the dreadful weather to see what a great village we have.

"This award is a credit to all those who worked so hard to put our case across, especially Elizabeth Collins."