RESIDENTS of a small rural village in the region are celebrating after they were named best village in the country in a national competition.

Newton le Willows, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, has been crowned the Calor Village of the Year and has clinched £9,500 prize money.

The move comes just a few weeks after the village was named as the Calor Village of the Year for North England.

Newton le Willows was judged to be a village with a positive outlook, a strong sense of direction and an ability to innovate.

The judges also felt the residents had a generosity in fundraising for both local and other charitable causes.

The village celebrated a double boost as the Calor judges also felt that Newton le Willows won the national title in the sustainability section.

Newton le Willows falls into the patch of Richmondshire district councillor Keith Loadman.

He said: "It’s quite an achievement and very well deserved and they have done brilliantly.

"It is a surprise that they have done so well as it is a national competition and you don’t know what the standards are.

"But they have a good team down there and they have certainly worked hard and congratulations to them."

To win the main title Newton le Willows beat off four other regional winners in Goring on Thames, Oxfordshire; Swanton Morley, Norfolk; Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire; and Bonsall, Derbyshire.

Holly Sims, Calor Village of the Year manager, said: "Congratulations to Newton le Willows.

"The villagers will be sure to be ending the year on a massive high following this fantastic achievement.

"We're delighted to be able to recognise them for all the wonderful projects and hard work that have gone into making the community the very best in England."