COLNE’S main shopping street is in with a chance of being named the best in Britain.

The Pendle town has been picked out of more than 230 entries in the Great British High Street Awards 2015 and will now go head-to-head with Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and Helmsley in North Yorkshire in the prestigious market town category.

Colne will also compete against 20 other entries for the Winner of Winners crown, with a share of a £50,000 cash prize and training opportunities up for grabs.

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Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson, who worked with the town centre forum and town council on the bid, said in his submission: “I am fortunate to live right on Colne’s vibrant high street, which is a spine connecting all the parts of town, known far and wide as ‘Bonnie Colne-on-the-Hill’.

“Over the last few years, the town has come together to reinvigorate it and make it the focal point of the community.”

Colne’s Albert Road, which then becomes Market Street, boasts a thriving indoor market hall and a range of independent traders in shops.

And the town is also on the map thanks to hosting the annual Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival which attracts thousands of music fans to the town each August.

Marcus Jones MP, minister for local government, said: “We received over 230 applications for this year’s awards and the standards were extremely high, so just getting through to the final is a huge achievement.”

Colne is looking to follow up the success of neighbour Barnoldswick, which was named local centre winner last year.

Great British High Street judges — which include representatives from Marks & Spencer, Tesco and the Post Office — will visit in November.

But chairman of the town council’s events committee, Councillor Ash Sutcliffe, said: “Proud Colners can get behind the bid by taking part in the public vote, which will make up 50 per cent of the final decision.

“And those of us who tweet should remember to use the #gbhighst hashtag.”

To cast your vote for Colne before the mid-November cut-off, visit the website www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk.