MORE than 20 East Lancashire communities are preparing for inspection by judges on the hunt for this year's best-kept village.

Parish councils are urging residents to do all they can to make their areas clean and tidy ahead of the visits to the region's entries, which range from tiny hamlets to rural towns.

Two East Lancashire villages are in the champion village class -- open to winners of the other categories within the last six years. They are Blacko, near Colne, and West Bradford in the Ribble Valley.

Competing in the large village category, open to areas with a population of more than 1,000, are Astley Village, Billington, Clitheroe, Charnock Richard, Higham, Langho, Longridge, Read, Ribchester, Trawden, Whalley and Whittle-le-Woods.

In the small village category -- with a population of 150 to 1,000 -- are Barrow near Clitheroe, Chapeltown near Turton, Chipping, Grindleton, Higher Wheelton, Hoghton, Hurst Green, Wheelton, Wiswell and York Village, near Whalley.

And in the hamlet class -- for a population up to 150 -- Bashall Eaves near Clitheroe, Harrop Fold in the Trough of Bowland, Knowle Green, and Newchurch-in-Pendle, are competing for the top prize.

Whalley Parish Council has issued a plea for its residents to do all they can to spruce-up the village.

Parish councillor Eric Ronnan said: "We've decided to enter again, and we hope to do well. We've put up posters telling people about the judging. We employ a parish lengthsman now to keep things tidy, so we've got high hopes."

Bill Wilkinson, secretary of the Lancashire Best-Kept Village competition, said: "Judges will be looking at the overall tidiness of the village, condition of private property, condition of communal buildings and recreational facilities, condition of places of worship, graveyards and cemeteries, and condition of commercial facilities.

"The first round of judging will take place until July 14, and then we will inform the finalists before the final judging begins in August."

As well as the main awards, 18 'certificate of merit' categories will also be judged, which look for the best-kept farm, shop, school, playing field, village hall, place of worship, pub, caravan park, and noticeboard.