Villagers are celebrating after scooping more than £50,000 to help conserve their valley.

The Loose Valley is to benefit from a £57,000 lottery grant after campaigners won a TV battle with a rival project.

The Loose Amenities Association’s bid to upgrade the public footpath through the valley was victorious in the People’s Millions challenge, broadcast on the Meridian news programme on Tuesday .

Viewers were asked to vote for either the Loose project or a conservation scheme in Minster.

The association’s secretary Andrea Tozer said: “Naturally we’re all absolutely delighted. It’s a brilliant result for us. It would take years and years to raise this amount of money normally.”

For the full story, see the Kent Messenger.