villagers are keeping their fingers crossed as they wait to hear if they have won a nation's best title.

Tilton on the Hill picked up the Calor Gas award for Leicestershire's best village last month and has now taken the sustainability title in the latest stage of the competition, which covers the Midlands. As the regional category winner, villagers now have a few weeks to wait before finding out if it is Britain's best.

The theme of their entry is to show how environmentally friendly the village is.

Tilton Green – the group responsible for organising the entry – has been encouraging people to recycle as much waste as possible.

About 100 people have been involved in a competition to reduce electricity consumption.

Chairman Miriam Stoate said "This is great news and will spur us on. It reflects well on the strong support the community is showing for Tilton Green and the huge strides the organisation has made since it was started about 18 months ago."

Committee member Paul Herrington said: "When the judges came in early October everyone rallied round magnificently."

The national category award is also being contested by Newton-le-Willows, in Yorkshire, Goring-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire, and Minchinhampton, in Gloucestershire.

Calor Village of the Year manager Holly Sims said: "Congratulations to Tilton on the Hill – our regional sustainability winner for central England.

"I'm sure the community will be on tenterhooks over the next few weeks before the national category winners are revealed. We wish them luck."

The national winners will be revealed on November 24.