Marlow has taken the top honour in the Buckinghamshire Best Kept Village competition, scooping a double prize from judges.

The town triumphed in the ‘small town’ category and was also awarded the "Sword of Excellence" for the highest points tally overall.

Judges paid a surprise visit in June, taking in parks and public land throughout Marlow, and were impressed with the high standard in areas like Higginson Park, the town council cemetery and Marlow Lock.

Mayor Bob Johnson said: "The Town, it’s Residents, Business community and visitors can rightly be proud of their achievements in looking after the Towns amenities, playing fields, recreational areas, halls, memorial statues, notice boards together with areas around pubs and shops, all of which totally support our efforts in building and sustaining our Marlow Community.

"This is a real triumph as we work with the ever increasing competitive forces for reducing resource.

"Our Marlow community has worked miracles to maintain and improve standards – shown by receiving this award.

"We can and will continue to do more as we implement the Vision now into its 4th year of a 10 year plan.

"Well done everyone, especially the Officers as well as my Councillor colleagues, as we strive to do the best for our Town."

Marlow also took the top prize in 2009 during mayor Roger Wilson’s tenure.

Elsewhere in south Bucks, Amersham Old Town was named Best Runner-up across all categories and Little Marlow and Little Missenden shared the runners-up award for small villages.

Stoke Goldington won the Gurney Cup for best village with a population up to 500, with Cuddington scooping the Morris Cup for villages between 500 and 1,500.

Stewkley was named best kept large village, while Haddenham took the Pushman Cup in the biggest of the village categories.

And the village of Cuddington was selected for the Community Award.

Competition chairman, Richard Pushman said: "There were a record number of entries this year, standards were high in all the competing villages and I congratulate all our winners and runners-up.

"The judges were very impressed with the general upkeep and absence of litter. Almost all the entries displayed much evidence of good community spirit with numerous activities and community enterprise."

The competition has been running for 58 years, and is organised by the Bucks Best Kept Village Competition Committee with sponsorship provided by Bucks County Council, Milton Keynes Council and district councils in Aylesbury Vale and Chiltern.

Entrants were assessed on various features within their villages with categories covering playing fields, recreation grounds, village halls, war memorials, notice boards and areas around shops and pubs.

The judges were also looking for evidence of community effort.