A shop in Chorleywood has been named the best independent bookseller of the year.

The Bookshop in New Parade has won the London and the Southeast Independent Bookseller of the Year.

Owners Sheryl Shurville and Morag Watkins now have a place in the national final, which is judged by the Bookseller magazine and Gardners Books.

Ms Shurville said: “Morag and I are thrilled, we feel very proud to have reached this stage and really hope we win, our fingers are crossed.”

The Chorleywood Bookshop has been in the same place since 1972, and has always been run by women.

“We haven't got an axe to grind against men,” Ms Watkins added: “It's just always been that way.”

The pair organise regular signings by popular authors and have been instrumental in the town's week-long annual literature festival since 2006.

Last year's festival, which ran from November 16 to 21, featured Man-Booker prize winning author Howard Jacobson and Poet Laureate Carol Anne Duffy.

Ms Watkins said: “Sheryl met someone at a conference who ran a literacy festival in a much smaller town, and I worked in the library at the time, we thought we could do a similar event as a joint venture.

“We changed the name from literacy to literature festival to make it more accessible, we didn't want people to think it was too highbrow and not for them.”

In March last year they were given a New Venture Award from Women in Publishing, who work to promote the status of women working in publishing and related trades, in recognition of the festival.

The competition final takes place on May 16 at The Hilton Park Lane.