TWO Rawtenstall shops are in the running to be named as one of Britain’s Best Shops of 2011.

Rolands Florist, in Bacup Road, and clothes boutique, Sunday Best, Bank Street, have been short-listed for the Daily Telegraph Magazine’s Best Small Shops in Britain awards.

Journalist and retail marketing consultant Mary Portas, also known as ‘Mary Queen of Shops’, will select the winners in various categories including bookshop, fashion boutique, grocer, corner shop and florist. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Altitude 360 venue in London on Thursday.

Maureen Hallsworth, who owns Rolands Florist, said: “We feel really proud and honoured. The awards means a lot because it has been voted for by our customers.

“We hope that awards like these show and encourage other independent shops to continue in the knowledge that the public are supporting us.”

Sunday Best, which is owned by Jan Shutt, helped launch the career of supermodel Agyness Deyn.

Yesterday shop staff said they were thrilled to have been shortlisted. Each shop initially nominated themselves for the award before asking customers to show their support.

Rolands Florist has been in business for more than 20 years, starting off in Waterfoot, before moving to Rawtenstall Arcade then settling in Bacup Road.