STANSTED has been highly commended in the Essex Village of the Year competition organised by the Rural Community Council of Essex.

The village also won the large village category in the best-kept village of the year.

The overall winner in the village of the year was Great Bentley, near Colchester, with Belchamp St Paul runner-up, and Stock, near Chelmsford, joining Stansted with a highly commended award.

Henham was one of 12 villages to receive a merit award.