BARFORD Village Shop is in the running for a Rural Oscar.
Owned by villagers and run by volunteers for seven years, the shop has been nominated in the national Countryside Alliance Awards for being a community hub.
As well as providing groceries and a Post Office, the shop also boasts an internet cafe.
The awards – known as the Rural Oscars – are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage.
Members of the public nominated businesses across four categories – Local Food, Village Shop, Butcher and Tourism Enterprise.
Also nominated, in the Local Food category, is Lower Clopton Farm Shop near Stratford, which sells meat reared on their farm and locally grown produce.
Countryside Alliance Awards director, Jill Grieve said: “The finalists are all exceptional. We have been overwhelmed by nominations this year, so for Barford Village Shop and Lower Clopton Farm Shop to get this far is a huge achievement for them.
“The secret to the Rural Oscars’ popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses and not just their produce or services.
“They exist to sing the praises of those who work hard to keep our communities and rural economy ticking, but don’t seek the spotlight.”
The awards will be presented at the House of Lords on April 27.
