Volunteers in Gerrards Cross will be tidying roads, cleaning signs, cutting back overgrown hedges and clearing pavements as part of a bid to be named the best kept village in Buckinghamshire.

Councillors and the village traders association have kick-started their aim to be the best, as they appeal to residents to help them make the parish the number one in the county.

The competition will be judged in June this year and they hope to emulate the success of others in the South Bucks district.

However, campaigners say they will struggle to be acknowledged in the Buckinghamshire Best Kept Village Competition without the help of other villagers.

In a press release from Gerrards Cross Parish Council’s Best Kept Village Working Party they outline exactly what needs to be done.

They say: “Most important is to take a look at your street. Pick up any litter outside your house and your neighbours, make sure your hedge is cut back and not obstructing the pavement, make sure your street signs are visible and clean, remove any weeds growing on your footpath. “Please let the parish council know if there is anything else that can be done to improve your street.”

They added: “The Parish Council will be tidying up all the major roads, cleaning signs and bollards, cutting back overgrown vegetation and clearing footpaths. Please do not take any risk by doing this yourself.

“We will be ably assisted by many other organisations, including the Conservation Volunteers, the Rotary Clubs, the Schools, the Scouts and Guides, the Churches, the Community Association and of course the Traders [Gerrards Cross Traders Association].”

Plans have been in place to mount a challenge for the competition since late 2014 but councillors say there is still a lot of work to do to “bring the village up to scratch”.

Entries in the competition were split into nine categories last year with Chalfont St Peter, Fulmer, Hedgerley and Halton among the winners, with Marlow finishing as runner-up in the small town category.

The Gerrards Cross campaign was officially launched on Monday and volunteers have so far been displaying posters to spread the message of the group.

Planned work across the village will also be carried out in April and May.

If you are interested in helping the group’s bid to be named Buckinghamshire’s Best Kept Village email BestKeptVillage@gerrardscross.gov.uk Updates can also be found on the Gerrards Cross Parish Council’s Twitter feed and Facebook page.

For more information about the competition, visit www.bucksvoice.net/bestkeptvillage