A CAMERA crew and panel of judges visited Winsley Post Office Stores for the last stage of a shop of the year contest.

The crew called on Alan and Sarah Appleby to find out if the couple were worthy of the prestigious title before the winner was announced on Friday, December 7, at an awards ceremony in St Andrews, Scotland.

Mr Appleby said: "It would be nice to win. When the judges came round a couple of weeks ago they said it was the best shop they had seen, but I expect they say that to everybody."

The judges filmed the couple in action and parts of the shop on November 20 and also asked customers what they thought of the store.

"Last time they were supposed to come, I told everyone and that afternoon was one of the quietest we have ever had," Mr Appleby said.

The couple, who won the area final, were due to fly to Scotland this morning to find out if they had beaten off other contenders to bring home the prize of Neighbourhood Shop of the Year in the contest organised by Robert Wiseman Dairies.

Mystery shoppers visited the Winsley store in recent weeks to see if the couple offered service that was worthy of the title. However the couple have always done well whenever mystery shoppers have visited them.

Mr Appleby said: "We've had feedback from two of our Spar mystery shoppers and we were awarded 14 points out of 16 which isn't bad, but really we should have got full marks because the shopper said we lost two points for not having any mushrooms or tomatoes but they were in the fridge and she didn't ask."

The husband-and-wife team not only offer a post office and general store service but they also take on dry cleaning and bake their own bread.

Mr Appleby said: "Customers are over the moon that we have got this far and I think it's because we do try to offer an extra special service."

The couple have no idea whether they will have won or not when they go to St Andrews today but consider it an achievement to have made it this far.