A BUSINESS narrowly missed out on the top spot in an awards scheme searching for the best village shop in the country.

Robin Hill Stores at Marnhull was highly commended at the Countryside Alliance Awards finals which were held at Parliament last week.

Bob and Suzanne Young who run the shop came second to a community-run store, Yarpole Village Shop, Herefordshire.

But they have repeatedly impressed judges by going above and beyond the call of duty in the service of their village in the awards scheme which has been dubbed the "Rural Oscars".

Their store had already won the Wessex regional title three times to qualify for the finals which were judged by a panel including the chef Clarissa Dickson Wright.

A prize-giving reception was held at the House of Lords which Mr and Mrs Young attended to be awarded a certificate by Shadow Defra Secretary Mary Creagh MP, and be applauded by the packed reception.

Alice Barnard, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, told the reception: "This is a great village shop and post office which is always packed full of local people of all ages.

"They are picking up local produce rather than travelling to the supermarket, catching up on gossip and asking advice from Bob and Sue.

"Robin Hill is so much more than a shop, it is the heart of the community."