A HAGLEY gift shop has beaten a string of other independent retail stores to walk away with a prestigious national prize.

Lily Blue Gifts and Home were named ‘best newcomer’ at the Greats Retails Award 2016 at a lavish ceremony held recently in London.

The team of local ladies fought off strong competition from more than 500 stores across the midlands, the north and Scotland to take home a Greats Retail Award, which is now in its 14th year.

Staff from the Worcester Lane shop left the ceremony, at The Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s exclusive Park Lane, brandishing their impressive trophy.

Angela Jones, owner of Lily Blue, said: “We were surprised and beyond delighted to even be recognised as best newcomer finalists, let alone the winners of our category.

“I’m so proud of our achievements to date and can’t wait to share this triumph with all of our customers.

“The team and I had a fantastic day at The Greats Awards and it was a pleasure to meet so many like-minded independent business owners and industry experts from across the UK.”

Now proudly displaying the best newcomer trophy in their shop window, staff are already thinking ahead as to how they are going to repeat their success next year.