A BOURNEMOUTH bookshop is in the running to be named independent book shop of the year.

Westbourne Bookshop in Poole Road is one of 10 finalists vying to be crowned independent bookshop of the year in the south west in The British Book Awards 2024.

Folde Dorset Ltd in Shaftesbury is the only other Dorset-based bookshop in the shortlist.

The British Book Awards 2024 Independent Bookshop of the Year Award celebrates stores “at the centre of local communities, bringing passion and knowledge to the shop floor”.

A total of 77 independent bookshops are listed across nine different regions and countries, in what is the largest cohort yet.

The shops will vie to win their region first before contending for the overall prize, which will be announced when The British Book Awards ceremony on Monday, May 13.

The overall independent bookshop of the year winner will also be in the running to be crowned book retailer of the year.

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller managing editor, said: This year’s cohort is one of the strongest I have seen in my 15 years judging this award. Indies have come out of the pandemic and into a cost-of-living and business rates crises, yet still through innovation and creativity thrive as never before.”