THE search has begun for Dorset’s Best Village, with the launch of the 2014 competition this week.

The competition has been organised by Dorset Community Action (DCA) for the past 27 years.

Entries are welcome from parish councils and parish meetings, village hall committees and any other active community group.

Last year, 55 villages took part in the competition.

In addition to the Best Village competition, there is The People’s Project category, for the village judged to have entered the best project involving local active people, and Environmental Champions, the village judged to be carrying out the most green initiatives over the year.

There is also a new category in this year’s event, sponsored by the Dorset branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, of Best Village Shop.

The deadline for entries is 5pm on April 7, apart from the Environmental Champions Award - entrants have to register an interest in taking part by April 7, with a final entry date of August 22.

Enter the competition online at www.dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk/dorsets_best_village. Alternatively, contact DCA on 01305 216407 in order to be sent a copy in the post.