A community is celebrating after independent retailers Suki and Santokh Samra scooped the £1,000 top prize in a competition organised by the My Shop is Your Shop campaign and Convenience Store.
The Star of the Stars competition gave independent retailers the chance to win cash to spend on a local community project of their choice, plus 50 free cases of big brand products.
The Premier retailers, who own Lawnside Stores in Forest Green, Gloucestershire, nominated a play equipment fund set up by the village's residents' association as their charity.
Suki told Convenience Store: "We've already passed the cheque on and everyone is very happy. We like to do everything we can to help the local community, and everyone here supports each other. All of our customers are very thankful."
Two runners-up, Lesley Brown of Frankmarsh Stores in Barnstaple and Bridgend newsagent Sarah Thomas, were awarded cheques for £250 plus 50 cases of products. Lesley's chosen project was Gorwell and Frankmarsh Summer Club, which organises events for children during the school holidays, while Sarah gave her winnings to the boys' and girls' clubs in Nantymoel and Ogmore Vale, to help fund a range of activities including sports, dance and computer classes.
A discretionary £250 was also awarded to Shropshire retailer Jane Moore to help fund a village in bloom festival, which helps attract customers to her village store.
The My Shop is Your Shop campaign is to publish two special National Independents' Week manuals. The first will list 50 ideas for independent retailers looking to maximise their involvement with the local community. The second is a guide to prepare cash and carry depot managers for the week, which runs from June 4-11.

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