THE clock is ticking for South Gloucestershire villages intending to take part in the 2004 Calor Village of the Year competition.

Sue Gawler, of the Avonside branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, is warning that villages will miss out unless they get their entry forms back to her by May 31.

"If your village a great place to live then you should be entering it in the competition," said Sue.

"The procedure is quite simple. Villages complete a simple entry form available from the parish clerk or from us at Avonside CPRE. Sometimes it's completed by the Neighbourhood Watch, or the Women's Institute, or any other active body in the village. They just need to return it to us and wait to be visited by the judges."

It is the third year that Sue has organised the competition. A record 24 villages took part last year and she is expecting more this year.

Organised by the Avonside CPRE and sponsored by Calor, the competition is the first rung on the ladder to a fair-size pot of prizes.

The winning Avonside village will go forward to the national Calor Village of the Year Competition, pitching for up to £10,500 in prize money. This year Calor has increased the prize money to a total of nearly £37,000. First prize is £6,000 with £1,500 going to each of six regional winners, and an additional £1000 for ICT (information communications technology). In addition, there are six category prizes of £500 within each region.

The six regional winners of the Business category are judged for the Calor with Business in the Community Award which is £1,000 plus business consultancy advice, worth an estimated £4,000.

In Avonside's county-wide competition there are cash prizes, plaques and certificates and trees donated by Landcare Nursery for winners within each local authority, as well as the county winners.

However, says Sue, villages get more from it than just cash prizes.

"It's about the life of the village, celebrating what's best and making a note of what needs help. We have villages who take part every year, who haven't won a prize - yet. They tell us how much they enjoy taking part and how it's built pride in the community."

The first round of judging takes place from June 15 to July 30. The second round of visits will be in August. Results are announced at an awards presentation event in November.

Entry forms are available from Sue Gawler, email sue.gawler@btopenworld.com or telephone 01454 228519. You can read about the competition on www.villageoftheyear.org or get more information by visiting info@villageoftheyear.org - or by telephoning 01926 318634.