EASTINGTON beat off competition from all over the county when it became the Gloucestershire Vibrant Village of the Year 2010 yesterday, Thursday.

Meanwhile, Horsley won the category for best community project for its 3 in 1 project.

Representatives from many villages met at the Painswick Centre in Painswick for an awards ceremony hosted by Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC).

Villages were competing in many categories including best community facility, best community project, most resilient community, most healthy and active community, best newcomer, outstanding community champion and for GRCC's special award.

But by far the most coveted award was that of the overall winner of Gloucestershire Vibrant Village of the Year.

Robert Turner, from The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, explained why Eastington won.

"An enthusiastic group of representatives from various organisations formed the reception committee for the judges at the tiny but newly refurbished village hall," he said.

"Built in 1927, the hall, once almost derelict, is now a popular venue for dog training among other things, thanks to grants, fundraising and voluntary labour.

"An eco-friendly building incorporating green technology has been built by the people for the people overlooking the playing fields, giving a further excellent venue for the playgroup, meetings and functions. "Pressure from the community to provide allotments ensured the parish council was quick to purchase the necessary land when it became available. "The forward looking footpaths officer has a vision to provide disabled and child-friendly access along well maintained footpaths to neighbouring parishes. "Resilience has been shown by the Keep Eastington Rural group who, having defeated one large organisation in their efforts to impose a large development in the village, simmer away gently but would come to the boil should there be a further threat to their identity.

"Eastington deserves the accolade of vibrant village due to the pro-active attitude of the parish council, organisations and residents alike."

Parish councillor Bill Edwards, who collected the award, said: "In Eastington there is a strong community spirit.

"The building of the new community centre, at the Owen Harris Memorial Ground, was a great success - villagers were determined it wouldn't fail.

"Eastington is very much a living village."

Patricia Rowan, chairman of governors at Horsley Primary School, picked up Horsley's award for best comunity project.

Since 2003 villagers have been working on the 3 in 1 project, which aims to make the best use of St Martin's Church.

The 3 refers to the church, the school and the community.

The aim is to utilise the church's space - for example fixed pews have been removed and replaced with ordinary chairs so that the school could use the space for its daily assemblies.

It is also used by the communtiy for concerts, plays and dance groups.

Keith Rog, a trustee of GRCC, said: "The judges were impressed with the way that various disparate groups had come together to make this project work - it is an example of what innovative thinking can achieve."

Arlingham and Painswick also won participation certificates.

For the full list of winners visit www.grcc.org.uk