A MARKET town in Oxfordshire is one step closer to becoming Britain’s favourite high street after reaching the final of a national competition.

Chipping Norton has beaten more than 200 entrants to battle for the crown and win a slice of £80,000 in prize money up for grabs in the Great British High Street competition run by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

During the next six weeks the town will compete with 20 other towns and cities in seven categories for votes from the public and points from the judges, due to visit later this month.

Adrian Wild, who owns High Street gift shop Wild at Heart, said: “It’s very exciting. It really is a great town and the traders here are all friends and help each other out. The town is buzzing from the news.”

Manager of Delicacy Deli in Middle Row, Penny Troughton, added: “Chipping Norton is a thriving market town – you can really get anything here.”

Now in its second year, the competition was designed to champion high streets as the cornerstones of the British community. Chipping Norton is one of three finalists in the market town category, along with Helmsley in Yorkshire and Colne in Lancashire.

If it wins, local businesses will reap the benefits with expert tips and training from Google to boost their digital marketing.

Chipping Norton mayor Mike Tysoe said: “It’s amazing to be shortlisted.”

The town’s entry was organised by Experience Chipping Norton (ECN), a voluntary project promoting local trade, tourism and community events to inspire a bright future for the area.

To prepare for the competition, members of ECN visited last year’s winning town, Belper in Derbyshire, where shops have benefited hugely from more customers and visitors.

ECN spokesman Shaun Fagan said: “Winning the market town category in the Great British High Street Awards will put Chipping Norton on the map for tourists to visit and businesses looking for a great place to set up – not to mention the attention it will attract from people looking for a beautiful place to live.

“We’re going to be pulling out all the stops. We urge everyone to show their support and get voting.”

* To vote, go online at thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/high-street-of-the-year-award