Alison in the running to be High Street Hero

A SHOP owner who helps market stall holders open their own stores is among those in the running for a prestigious award.

Alison Boa, of Aberfoyle, Perthshire, has been shortlisted for her efforts to encourage business in the village. Others up for the High Street Hero award include Rachel Dodd, whose “influence, tenacity and sheer determination” has given the high street of Yarm, Yorkshire, a boost.

There are more than 20 business owners shortlisted for the Hero gong, part of the Government-run Great British High Street Awards, run in partnership with payments giant Visa.

Others include Dean Christy, from last year’s overall best high street winner, Crickhowell in Wales. He not only initiated a project to prevent a national supermarket taking over the village’s Corn Exchange pub, but then spearheaded turning it into shops and flats.

For details on all those shortlisted for the Hero category, and well as the other categories – the Champion Award and Rising Star Award – visit thegreatbritish highstreet.co.uk.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in November. SOFA chain DFS is after sitting pretty rose by almost annual profits made third. The firm a year to the end in the £50.2million sales increasing of June, with nearly £1.3billion. to 14.4 per cent took a knock price However, its share growth had after bosses revealed of July because slowed since and the Brexit uncertainty weakening housing market.