HIGH streets across the region are being encouraged to celebrate what they have to offer as part of a national campaign.

"Great British High Street" week comes as part of the build up to the 2018 High Street awards.

The awards recognise the best high streets in the country and entries are being taken now, with Hambleton’s market towns all in with a chance of winning.

Finalists for this year’s awards will be announced in September when the public will be urged to vote for their favourites.

Hambleton council’s deputy leader Peter Wilkinson said: “There is a plethora of fantastic high streets in Hambleton and we hope to have some nominees for this year’s awards.

“Vibrant high streets are key to the future prosperity of our market towns and we are working hard to ensure our towns businesses are ready to meet future challenges.

“Our towns have great retail and leisure offers but this competition is also about individuality, community and innovation, and I believe our towns will score highly here too.”