CALOR is adding a new award aimed at rural pubs to its Calor village of the year competition and the company is calling on pubs in the Swindon area to enter.

The pub is traditionally at the heart of a village and the importance of encouraging sustainable communities is at the core of the competition.

Calor, together with Business in the Community and Pubs is the Hub, will be using the new award to celebrate pubs that have diversified their businesses to offer their local community a wider range of services.

Calor's commercial market manager, Sabrina Jackson, said: "Pubs which have found innovative ways in which to serve their local community and help their own business success in the process will be highlighted."

Calor's LPG is used in a wide variety of applications in rural areas, from catering equipment and heating in pubs and restaurants to a whole host of agricultural uses.

Business in the Community works to promote mutually beneficial links between businesses and local communities.

The new award was prompted from its work with Pub is the Hub, a campaign which provides advice, guidance and information on how rural pubs can be sustained within rural communities.

Information about the new award as well as an online entry form can be found at www.lpg-catering.co.uk/rural.

The award will be open to all pubs in rural villages with a population of less then 5,000 throughout England, Wales and Scotland. Closing dated is June 23.