Chalfont St Giles has once again been crowned one of the best kept villages in Buckinghamshire following an annual county-wide competition - despite drought conditions.

The picturesque village scooped the coveted Pushman Cup, set aside for villages with a population over 3000, in the 2018 Best Kept Village Competition.

Marlow was once again a runner up in the Michaelis Cup, which is for small towns, while Wendover came first.

Wendover was also awarded the Sword of Excellence as the best overall winner.

Judges say the standard of entries was "higher than ever" this year, despite soaring temperatures leaving villages to contend with drought-like conditions.

The cups will be presented in the winning villages by Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lord Lieutenant of Bucks, on Saturday, September 15.

The annual Best Kept Village competition is sponsored by George Browns and Bucks County Council with support from district councils including Chiltern and Wycombe.

Richard Pushman, chairman of the competition, said: "Our popular Best Kept Village Competition highlights the great community activity that goes on in our lovely Buckinghamshire villages.

"It is a great way to recognise the contribution of many who give their time and effort to showcase and enhance their local environment.

"The Best Kept Village competition is not just for ‘pretty’ villages – we want to see communities where everyone makes an effort to keep their surroundings well maintained.

"The competition is a good opportunity for villages to celebrate all the positive aspects of life in their village and we warmly congratulate this year’s winners for their superb efforts."