A TOWN is hoping to go one better in the finals of a prestigious competition to the find the best high street nationwide.

Chipping Norton has reached the finals of the prestigious Great British High Street of the Year Awards for the second year running.

And organisers were urging people to back the bid at the launch tonight. (Thurs)

Last year Chippy finished second but this year organiser, tourism group Experience Chipping Norton, is hoping to win the Small Market Town category.

It is pinning their hopes on a re-branded website, with town centre wi-fi on its way and new business and sponsorship schemes heralding a sustainable future for ECN.

Chippy also boasts a potential High Street Hero, with the 2016 shortlisting of Tea Set employee Imogen Haverty in the category of ‘Best under 25 involved in the high street’.

A spokesman said: "Why not help us score a double?

"Public voting has started and closes on November 18, so we need everyone casting a vote and all hands on deck to ensure a win for both Chippy and Imogen in this year’s competition!"

The campaign is set to be launched at a public meeting at the Tea Set café in Chippy High Street, between 6pm and 8pm this evening.

Judging is split between the public vote and judge’s visit, and the winner carries off £10,000 in prize money.

Four ways to help #Chippy2Win:

• Visit Chippy2Win.com and make one vote per email address per day for Chippy to be crowned Best Small Market Town of the Year. If you have more than one email, feel free to use it for extra votes!

• Cast your vote for Imogen Haverty to be crowned national High Street Hero via the GB High St voting page, and show the UK why Chippy customer service is second to none.

• Sponsor ECN and advertise your business via our exciting digital platform. Help Chippy Means Business prosper and grow.

• Volunteer your time and services to help ECN’s #GBHighSt campaign, as well as helping us achieve our longer-term business, tourism and community goals.

Chippy took silver in last year’s competition, despite winning the category vote, scoring 10/10 for Innovation and receiving a special recognition award for ECN chairman Shaun Fagan.

This year the town is up against Yorkshire’s Hebden Bridge and Thame in Oxfordshire.