THE stoic response to the hardships that have beset the rural communities of County Durham during the past year was rewarded on Wednesday.

This year's Durham County Tidy Village competition winners are probably among the most deserving to receive the accolade.

Representatives of seven parish councils and community associations, as well as pupils from a village primary school, received the top honours at the 42nd annual award ceremony, at County Hall, Durham.

They were chosen from a near record entry of almost 90 villages, including many throwing their hat in the ring for the first-time.

This was despite on-going problems endured by many communities this year, initially with flooding, the foot-and-mouth crisis and reduced income from tourists.

Awards chairman, Sedgefield councillor John Robinson, said judging was delayed for several months, and at one point the committee had to consider postponing this year's event.

"We thought, though, that after 40 years of tradition we wanted it to continue, so we went back and looked at the rules and decided we would put the judging back to August, with final judging in September."

Bob Pendlebury, chairman of Northumbria Tourist Board and Durham County Council cabinet member for the environment, recognised the efforts put in during, "a very difficult year".

Welcoming guests and award winners to the ceremony, Coun Pendlebury said: "Perhaps there should have been a special medal struck for everyone to recognise their 'stickability', their determination to see things done, despite all the problems."

Yesterday's ceremony was presided over by Sheila Storey, the outgoing chairman of the awards committee.

She said the accolades were just rewards for the efforts put in by so many people in their villages all year round to create a better environment for everyone.