MOST Foresters will tell you it's a great place to live – now it has been officially recognised with a clutch of awards.

Forest villages were at the forefront of the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council's village of the year awards, announced last week at Gloucester Cathedral.

Dean villages were either winners or runners-up in each of the four categories – and it was a Forest group that picked up another top prize in the council's village agent awards which were announced at the same ceremony.

The overall winner was Dymock which pipped St Briavels – which was also runner-up in the 'in touch' category.

Dymock almost pushed another Forest village – this time Redbrook – into second spot in the advice team category.

In the community-led planning award the winners was Berry Hill, Christchurch and Edge End.

Bromsberrow topped the growing great futures award – an initiative with the county's children's centres.

The Victoria Centre in Lydney was honoured in the group category of the village agent awards for its contribution to improving the lives of older people.

The village of the year competition is open to all communities across Gloucestershire and is an opportunity to celebrate what has been done to enhance the quality of life in the county.

Among the services at the Victoria Centre is a popular lunch club which serves more than 100 meals a week.

Co-ordinator Carol Haycock said: "It was amazing to be nominated and to win and it was a very good night for the Forest."