DESPITE losing out in a national competition, the team behind Raglan in Bloom were celebrating this week after being voted as the winner in Gwent Best Kept Village competition.

Trevor Phillips chairman of the Raglan in Bloom committee said that the volunteers had become despondent after not obtaining gold in the Wales in Bloom competition and added, "It was a honour for the team's hard work and dedication to be recognised by the Best Kept Village competition judges who observed that Raglan was litter free and that the flowers on display were marvellous."

The team was presented with gardening vouchers and a plaque which is now displayed in the village post office.

The annual competition is run by Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations and is sponsored by Chepstow Garden Centre.

As usual, the standard of entry was very high and, in many cases, the judges had great difficulty in arriving at their decisions who concluded that the amount of effort people put into tidying up their villages was really impressive.

The award winners were invited to attend a presentation evening held at the Chepstow Garden Centre, which was attended by civic dignitaries, representatives from each village and by children from winning schools. Gwent Best Kept village chairman, Brian Strong thanked the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent Simon and Catriona Boyle for judging the competition for the past three years.

Local winners in the Gwent Best kept Village competition:

Best Kept Village School under 100 Pupils: Llanfair Kilgeddin Primary School

Hamlets: Highly Commended - Llangua

Village population of 51 to 350 category:

Gwent Best Kept Churchyard: Grosmont

Gwent Best Village Hall: Grosmont

Best Kept Village with a population of 1001 - 4999 category: Raglan