FOUR villages from West Devon will be awaiting a secret army of unannounced visitors during the next two months.
Judges from this year's Devon Best Kept Village competition will make unannounced visits to Horrabridge, Meeth, Merton and Sheepwash as well as the 45 other villages shortlisted for the award.
The competition to find Devon's best kept village is organised by the Council for the Protection of Rural England and is sponsored by Calor Gas.
Rosalyn Kriteman, competition organiser for Devon CPRE, said: 'Judging will take place in May and June, with final judging in July and the results announced later that month. Interest and enthusiasm are high and we are looking forward to a very competitive event after the disappointment of 2001.'
The event did not run last year because of foot and mouth.
l This year's best kept village competition may be closed now, but there is still time to enter your community in the Village of the Year competition.
Entries for the Calor Gas Devon Village of the Year, which the Council for the Protection of Rural England runs in partnership with the Community Council of Devon, do not close until June 1. The winner will represent Devon in the Village of the Year for England and Wales, which will be contested by more than 40 villages.
Last year, Tedburn St Mary was overall winner of Village of the Year. 'After last year's success of Tedburn St Mary, the overall winner and Bampton, the winner of the regional Information Technology prize, expectations are high.
'The competition focuses on the strength of community life and villages that are interested in competing can get help and advice from CPRE or the Community Council,' said Mrs Kriteman.