Several areas of the town were identified as being problem 'hotspots' and small teams were deployed to weed, trim and litter pick to make the town nice and bright for the arrival of the judges for the Calor Best Kept Village competition, who arrive on Thursday.


Starting at 10am, the group worked through a comprehensive list, stopping at 11.30 for refreshments and carrying on until 2pm, with some of the volunteers offering to return and complete tasks on Sunday.


Fifty two sacks of rubbish were cleared from the designated areas and pavements were swept and signs washed to give Caistor every chance of creating a good impression.


There was free ice cream all round following a tremendously productive session.


Caistor in Bloom secretary Jacquie Brown, who coordinated activities with chairman Deborah Barker, said this was a 'really positive representation from the community' and offered heartfelt thanks to all concerned.


The Calor Best Kept Village Competition judges will be visiting Caistor on Thursday June 25 to hear presentations from 23 of the 57 community groups in Caistor.


Should the judges award Caistor first place, the town will go on to represent Lincolnshire in the 2010 competition


Teresa Palmer of Community Lincs said she has been astounded by the increase in participants this year. Caistor was one of originally 21 entries in the county and was now down to the final four in the competition.