TWO East Lancashire village shops have made the North-West finals of the Countryside Alliance’s Awards.

Slaidburn Central Stores and Post Office and Trawden Forest Library and Community Shop have been shortlisted for a regional prize in the ‘Rural Oscars’.

They are both in the Village Shop/Post Office category.

The winner of the award class will be selected in mid-May and goes forward to the national finals to be judged during a special Champions Reception in the House of Lords on June 10.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson is delighted at the Trawden nomination while Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans is keeping his fingers crossed for success for the Slaidburn shop.

This year’s Countryside Alliance Awards are the 15th annual celebration of British food and farming, enterprise and heritage.

Mr Stephenson said: “The Countryside Alliance Awards celebrate those businesses that go the extra mile and are the cornerstone of rural communities.

“I will be following their progress with pride."