Is this the kindest village in the UK?

Villagers have been offering free car washes, gifts, and have even paid each others bills. Credit: Love Congresbury facebook page

A village in Somerset has laid claim to be the kindest community in the country after carrying out more than 800 random acts of kindness.

In June the residents of Congresbury pledged to perform the good deeds to mark the 800th anniversary of St Andrew’s Church in the village.

Now, they've hit their target:

FROM PAYING A VETS BILL TO DONATING A STAR WARS TICKET : A GAUNTLET OF GOOD DEEDS

Residents anonymously recorded each of the good deeds they carried out or experienced on little cards posted into a box at St Andrew's Church.

The box rapidly filled up with records of good deeds Credit: ITV News

Good deeds included someone who secretly paid a neighbour's vet bill, gave warm clothes to a rough sleeper and a group of young people who got together to paint public benches.

Some residents offered up a free car wash Credit: Love Congresbury Facebook page

Other acts saw people helping a stranger carry their shopping to their car, driving aid to migrants in Calais, or voluntary litter picking.

Fences were painted, hot drinks were made for tearful friends, and one man said he was helped to his feet by two motorists when he toppled off his bike.

One resident gave away her ticket to the opening night of the new Star Wars film:

This pair spruced up the village benches Credit: Love Congresbury Facebook page

'WE WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE'

The villagers say this challenge has just gone to show what a wonderful place they live in, and former residents wish they could return.

'THE WHOLE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER'

Congresbury lies 13 miles from Bristol and has a population of around 3,500, but organisers of the campaign say everyone has been united by the effort.

Becci North, who helped run the project, added that the campaign has been "a blessing".

"The whole community have come together over the past year and blessed one another and those within communities further a field.

"What is wonderful is the spirit in which all of this was taken.

"It wasn't about brownie points for good deeds but about love, about raising awareness of how simple acts of kindness can mean so much to someone else, even more to those you do not know.

"In a world where some people don't even know their neighbours, this initiative showed the fantastic amount of community spirit and compassion there is in Congresbury."

The generosity drive was in honour of the church's 800th birthday Credit: Love Congresbury Facebook page