A COUNCILLOR has paid tribute to the dedication of villagers in beating the odds to scoop a prize in an annual floral competition.

Aycliffe Village's hopes of claiming a third successive victory in the Northumbria in Bloom competition were dealt a blow when Great Aycliffe Town Council decided to cut the level of financial support.

The council said it could not justify spending £15,500 a year on the village and decided to spread the cash more evenly across the parish.

But the Aycliffe Village action committee vowed to carry on entering the competition and that decision was rewarded when it scooped first place in the best large village category this week.

Committee member and local councillor Bill Blenkinsopp, who criticised the funding decision at the time, said the win was down to the hard work of village people.

He said: "I'm over the moon that we've won it three times on the trot, especially with what's gone on. The council pulling out certainly hit the village's chances of winning this year, but it actually brought people together."