Villagers votes for shop pour in (From This is Hampshire)

Villagers votes for shop pour in

5:14am Friday 31st August 2007

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NOMINATIONS for the community-run Abbotts Ann Village Shop are dominating this year's Best Rural Retailer national competition run by the Countryside Alliance.

The shop, which has had over 80 nominations already, fared well in last year's competition and looks set to bring its particular brand of community spirit to this year's competition as well.

The Countryside Alliance's third annual Best Rural Retailer competition is showcasing the range of enterprise, produce and community spirit of the South of England - and there is still time for nominations.

The competition aims to celebrate rural communities through the retailers who work so hard to promote and keep them together.

Nomination categories are: Best Local Food Retailer; Best Village Shop/Post Office; Best Diversification; and Best Traditional Business.

Southern regional director Sara Rutherford said: "The south is once again seizing the chance to celebrate its produce and people, so if you haven't nominated yet there is still plenty of time.

"We want to tell the good-news stories of the region and give our retailers a boost by applauding them through this popular national competition. With dwindling services and communities under threat there has never been a better time to unite and show the whole country the grit, determination and warmth of our communities".

Nominate online at www.bestruralretailer.co.uk by 6 October. Regional winners will be announced before Christmas.

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