Proud residents of Llanymynech were celebrating this week after the village was named Montgomeryshire Village of the Year 2018.

The border village was crowned champion during an awards event on Friday, September 21, with Llanwddyn, Llangyniew and Guilsfield named finalists.

Judges singled out Llanymynech from the nine other entries, noting the village's "high standards" and range of "well-established groups and facilities" in their submission.

An independent judging panel of six made multiple visits to the villages, meeting local residents and carefully scrutinising information packs, websites and other information submitted as part of their applications.

They looked for evidence of cross-community involvement and inclusivity; a sense of place; heritage and pride; a range of well-established activities for all ages of a high standard and capable of adapting to change; communities that evolve and absorb changes in demography, employment, services; innovation, and a caring community.

The villages who missed out were Llangyniew, Llandyssil, Llanwddyn, Guilsfield, Bettws Cedewain, Castle Caereinion, Meifod, Kerry and Llandinam.

Brett Kibble, chairman of the CPRW’s Montgomeryshire branch, said all the entries has demonstrated the "remarkable community spirit" of Montgomeryshire's villages.

"All the finalists exhibited these characteristics irrespective of their size. Llanymynech particularly impressed with the high standard in everything they do, the range of well-established groups and facilities; their co-operative working with Pant, across the Wales/England border and their ability to work together," he said.

"The way they embrace their heritage that was so critical for the agricultural hinterland and how they celebrate and make use of the surrounding countryside."

Andrew Turner, a partner at chartered surveyors and estate agents Morris, Marshall and Poole with Norman Lloyd which sponsors the awards, said: "Yet again we’ve seen such a great mix of entrants, demonstrating the real community spirit we have here in Mid Wales.

"It’s vitally important our villages, towns and communities have a wide mix of activities, opportunities and pride in themselves. The residents, voluntary groups, organisations and businesses within them all play an important part, and this can be seen through the ten entrants in the village awards."

The awards were presented by Powys county councillor Myfanwy Alexander, portfolio holder for learning and Welsh language. In attendance was Russell George, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire.

Awards were also presented for maps produced by young people in the entry communities as part of the application process. These included Lifehouse, Bettws for a magnificent wall display of the village; Guilsfield Primary School for their comprehensive and beautifully presented information folder on the village; Kerry Primary School and Llandinam Primary School for their delightfully varied and well executed selection of maps, and two girls from Llandyssil who submitted clear and accurate maps of the village’s Dragon walks.

Special awards were also presented by the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust for Wildlife villages. These went to Guilsfield (established) and Bettws Cedewain (innovating).

The Welsh Historic Gardens Trust provided two awards for well-presented villages: Kerry and Llandyssil.

The Montgomeryshire Branch of the CPRW gave a special award to celebrate the European Year of Cultural Heritage. This went to Llangyniew.