WALLINGTON has been put on the map after winning a top prize in the Hampshire Village of the Year competition.

Judges were so impressed with the presentation by members of the Wallington Village Community Association that they crowned the village winner of the Community Life Category.

Committee members said they were delighted with the honour that reflected the work the association does for the village.

Executive committee member Alan Bloxham said: "Some 90 per cent of the village are already members of the association, so when you come to apply for things or approach Fareham Council for anything you know that you represent nearly all the village. If you get that level of community spirit you are half way to making things happen."

Association chairman Roger Trowell said the decision to enter the competition was not made until the eleventh hour.

He added: "It really was a last-minute decision to enter and the application form was certainly very thorough and detailed. We got through to the second round where we had to give a two hour presentation and I think the judges were impressed with how we did it."

Members of the judging panel were particularly impressed by the fact that almost all the 600 residents were members of the association.