Is yours the best village in West Sussex?

Winners of the competition to find the most active community in West Sussex have the chance to win up to 1,000 '“ and represent the county in the national final later this year.

Action in Rural Sussex is encouraging entries from every village and will be looking for communities which are best at working together to boost local quality of life.

The overall winners in West Sussex will receive a prize of 1,000 with 200 for the runners up in three categories in each county.

The Calor Village of the Year competition is sponsored by Calor, Sussex Police, Sussex Police Authority, Sussex Community Foundation and the Sussex Association of Local Councils.

This year's competition focus is on how rural villages are working together to tackle the changes and challenges of the 21st century '“ from activities for a greener lifestyle to harnessing new technology to improve communications and create local employment opportunities.

Action in rural Sussex is keen to encourage communities that have not taken part before to get involved.

Later in the year winning villages go forward and represent their county in the prestigious Calor Village of the Year for England competition 2008/9.

This will give that village the opportunity of gaining recognition at national level, as well as a share of a prize fund totalling more than 40,000.

The county's nominee to the 2007/8 national competition was Fernhurst with Storrington and Fishbourne in West Sussex as runners up.

Entry forms for the 2008 county competition can be requested from AirS by telephoning 01273 407325 or downloaded from www.ruralsussex.org.uk

Entries are set in three categories:

Up to 1,000 residents

1001-5000 residents

5001-10,000 residents.

They will be judged on six aspects of village life: - community life, business, young people, senior citizens, quality of life, communication and information.

The closing date for entries is Friday, April 11, judging will take place during May and the winners will be announced at an awards event at Scaynes Hill on July 4.