Villages are celebrating after being praised for their tidiness.
Earls Colne was runner up in its category of the Rural Community Council of Essex’s Best Kept Village Competition.
The village was entered into class two, with those of a population of between 2,000 to 5,000.
Judges inspect entrants and rate them on effective litter clearing, well maintained playgrounds, war memorials, village shop, bus shelters, pubs and churches, among other things.
Vice-chairman of the parish council Ian Sparks said: “We are very pleased, especially because the man who cares for the village, Lee Duncomb, has only been in the position for 10 months."
Great Maplestead received a merit award in the competition for its category of having a population between 300 to 800 people.
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