THE judging of a competition that promotes communal pride in villages and hamlets has been put back because of foot-and-mouth.
The judges of County Durham Tidy Village Competition were to begin touring the 85 entrants in May, but that has been postponed until July. The second and third rounds of judging have been put back to August and September.
The presentation ceremony, normally held at County Hall, Durham, in October, will be held in November.
Margaret Thornhill, secretary of the Durham Tidy Village Group, said: "Many of the villages that have entered are in areas that are affected by the disease.
"We couldn't possibly send people out judging in those circumstances.
"The disease is supposed to reach its peak in June. If we find it's going to be any different we'll have to do something, but we don't want to cancel the competition.''
The competition is in its 41st year and The Northern Echo provides two trophies - for the best small general village and the best large premier village
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