Active towns and villages across Suffolk are being urged to come forward and shout about how they’re championing sports and physical activity in their local community. Whether it is football, dog-walking, yoga, hockey or Zumba; the county council want to hear about these activities and celebrate them as part of Suffolk’s ambition to become England’s most active county.

The competition will seek out the most active town, small village and large village in Suffolk in 2014. As well as the honour of receiving this title, the winner in each category will receive an engraved brass plaque as a permanent recognition of their achievements.

Each winner will also have the opportunity to receive support from the Suffolk Most Active County team to explore ways in which the programme can help them build on their success in getting the local community active.

Councillor Alan Murray (pictured), Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for health and adult care, said:

"The competition will celebrate the hard work taking place in so many communities to give local people the opportunity and inspiration to get active and to stay active.

"Encouraging and supporting people to live active lifestyles in their community is incredibly important to keep them healthy and independent in the short and long term.

“The opportunities provided in communities across Suffolk are vital in helping us to achieve Suffolk's collective ambition of becoming the Most Active County in England.”

The competition is looking for communities that can demonstrate how they are getting people active, whether through new walking or cycling routes, programmes of activities in village halls, improved community facilities or new community events. Whatever the community is doing to get people active and stay active, the county council wants to know about it.

All entry forms will be carefully considered and a small number will be shortlisted as finalists. Those that successfully make it through the first round of judging will receive a ‘Most Active Community 2014 Finalist’ certificate.

A final judgement of the shortlisted entries will then take place, before the winners and runners-up for each category are announced in January 2015.

Any current form of physical activity can be included in the entry, as well as any form of physical activity held in the community during the last 12 months.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 7 December 2014.

The application form and a list of frequently asked questions is available to download viawww.mostactivecounty.com/community_activity.