A HISTORIC high street is in the running to win up to £10,000 in prize money as part of a nationwide search for Britain's best high street.

Blandford is one of over 600 applicants for the Great British High Street competition hoping to win the Small Market Town category.

It is hoped that the work of the Blandford Business Group will secure the win.

They have been helping to increase footfall through advertising and promotions. There are also plans to develop a town app to help boost local businesses; and to install cycle racks.

Group representative Alison Moore said: “High streets are vital to our local economy and Blandford shows what a group of independent businesses can do if they work together.

“Fingers crossed our entry will be successful so Blandford can get its name recognised as a great place to live, shop and work."

Now in its third year, the competition celebrates efforts to revive and diversify the nation's high streets. As well as the cash prize, Google are offering all category winners a skills training workshop.

High Streets Minister Andrew Percy said: “Last year’s competition was a massive success, helping to showcase the very best high streets across the country, with thousands of votes cast and winning high streets reporting an increase in shoppers.

“Our local high streets remain the life and soul of towns, villages and cities across the country and I’d encourage as many of them as possible to enter this year’s competition before the closing date."

New to 2016 will also be the high street hero award aimed at individuals who are making a difference to their local community.

On top of this, Twitter is backing a new digital category to find independent shops that are using social media to drive footfall.

The top three shortlisted in each category will be announced in October. They will then go through to a public online vote and places will be visited by the Future High Streets Forum judging panel made up of retail, property and business industry leaders.