ENTRIES are being invited from communities across County Durham who have done their bit to enhance their local environment in the past year.

District and parish councils have been sent entry forms for the this year's Durham County Tidy Village competition.

This year's competition features seven categories, which relate to each village's population size, and there are prizes on offer for the best large premier, large general, small premier, small general, medium, plus hamlets and first time entries.

There is also a children's competition, with the under-fives challenged to paint a flower, while five to ten-year-olds are invited to devise a bookmark on a tidy village theme.

The over-tens are asked to design a cover for a countryside diary.

Further information is available from the Environment Department at County Hall, in Durham.