MOULTON has been named the 'Best Kept Village' in an award that has been celebrated for more than a decade.

The village, near Scorton in Richmondshire was recently named best kept by the Richmond Rotary Club.

Seventeen villages from the district took part in the club's award, with Bellerby and Reeth closely following the winner.

Norman Brown of the Richmond Rotary Club said: "We send judges to all the villages during the same two weeks in July and they are scored on over fifteen criteria ranging from public spaces and private gardens to the condition of bus shelters, shops, guest houses and inns.

"Villages without some features are not penalised.

"After the first scoring a second visit is organised to the front runners to be sure that the scores are fair."

A cheque of £400 was presented to the villagers of Moulton by Chris Kirby, president of the Richmond Rotary Club.

John Gentry Moulton's chair of Moulton Parish Meeting said: "This has really been a team effort.

The Northern Echo:

"Everyone in the village pulls together and although it’s a lot of effort we are delighted that Moulton has won again."

Mr Kirby added: "There is every reason to be proud of the area where we live and our beautiful villages well deserve the recognition that Rotary gives them through this annual competition."