MILES of beautiful rolling scenery to the south, west and east, centuries-old houses encircling a picturesque village green and a thriving community, it easy to see why Heighington has been singled out as a perfect village.

No one knows when the foundations of the village were laid, but estimates put early settlements between 400AD and 1066AD.

The village name indicates Anglo-Saxon roots, and the village was once encased in six to 8ft walls that had gates to keep the livestock safe and intruders out.

It was those walls - the remains of which can still be seen in and around Heighington, County Durham, -that attracted the makers of BBC Four programme The Perfect Village.

Restoration historian Ptolemy Dean selected Heighington as one of 12 "perfect villages" across Britain - based on architecture, history and future.

Heighington was picked, according to programme-makers, because: "The village would have been eminently defensible, with its steep approach roads and narrow entrances.

"The church has a watchtower, which is one of only three in the area. The watchtower allows views to the south and north so that the village could be pre-warned of any trouble brewing in the local areas."

One of those interviewed on the programme was local historian Frank Haylett, who says Heighington appears in the Boldon Book - the northern version of the Domesday book, put together in 1183.

He said: "Heighington is still a pure village, a lot of the other villages in the series have had infill and modern stuff.

"There has been some here, but it is not visible when you stand in the centre of the village. You can easily imagine it as it would have been."

Heighington is certainly pretty, but residents are quick to point to something else.

Councillor Gerald Lee says: "It's the thriving community which makes the village. The green is used by mothers with children, the local Scout group and youths play football there.

"Whilst the village is very, very beautiful, it is also very active."

Heighington is the only village in the North which has been chosen, and will compete with places as far apart as the Scottish Highlands, the Cotswolds and County Down, in Northern Ireland, to be named Britain's "perfect village" at the end of the series on Friday, September 8.

Coun Lee said: "This is a marvellous village and we are proud. It is great that it has been chosen, because a lot of people in the South think of County Durham's industrial background."

However, despite the glory of starring in a BBC series, local vicar the Reverend Dr Philip Thomas believes it should not be taken too seriously.

He said: "It is nice to have a bit of recognition, but I hope that they have not made this too much into a village idyll.

"We have the same problems of loneliness and selfishness as anywhere else, but there are people who have done a lot of good things."

Heighington will be shown on The Perfect Village, at 10pm on Friday, August 18, on BBC4.

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