A GOWY valley village is pitching for national recognition of its vibrancy as a community.

Great Barrow won the Community Spirit award as part of Cheshire Community Council’s Community Pride contest to become the Cheshire nomination for the Calor 2007/08 National Village of the Year competition.

Its application has already gone in with judges expected to visit the village in the Spring.

The final awards will be announced next Autumn.

Cheshire judges describe Barrow as a thriving village with active community involvement.

Many flourishing groups are all looking confidently to the future.

To win the title, Barrow beat 24 other villages across the county.

Fiona Rackham, of Old Stack Yard, Barrow, a member of the parish’s community pride committee, said: “What the judges said was we have a lot of things going on for a lot of people, young and old, but although our groups serve different age ranges we also come together and do things as a community.

“For example, our shop – the people running it wanted to sell it and close it down but somebody bought it and ran it with a group of volunteers.”

Other examples of activities include the horticultural show with categories for different age groups.

Children often take services and shows to the old people’s home and have also planted a wild flower meadow at the Barrowmore Settlement for adults with disabilities and learning difficulties.