Shop 'a credit to the village' (From This is Hampshire)
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Shop 'a credit to the village'
10:28am Tuesday 2nd January 2007 in News By Dick Bellringer
ABBOTTS Ann shop and Post Office has been declared the Best Rural Retailer for the south of England.
Last month the store won the Best Village Shop/Post Office for Hampshire in the national competition run by the Countryside Alliance.
But now shop - which was opened in 2002 following a campaign by villagers - has won the overall competition for the south of England and moves on to the national final.
The judges said: "The calibre of retailers this year has been phenomenal and judging has been exceptionally difficult.
"But you have impressed the judges by the way you serve your community and are, as one of your nominations said of you, an absolute credit to the village and a deserving winner in this category'. "
Along with other finalists, the Abbotts Ann shop will be invited to a reception at the House of Lords on 7 February to find out who the national winners are.
