A HARDWARE store in York will find out this week whether it has hammered its rivals in a top national competition.

Pextons, in Bishopthorpe Road, is in the final of the Britain’s Best Retailer Awards, and will go head-to-head with stores from across the country on Thursday.

The shop, owned by Frankie and Johnny Hayes, is a finalist in the Best British Independent Hardware Retailer category.

Johnny thanked staff and customers for the nomination, saying: “We’re lucky enough to be trading in a thriving and close-knit community.

“We have a brilliant staff team here at Pextons and we often go beyond the call of duty to help people, especially the elderly, to solve their household problems. It’s very rewarding when we receive thank-yous and praise from satisfied customers, many of whom provided endorsements to back up our nomination. “We are very much looking forward to the awards and hope we hope to come home with a trophy or two.”

The awards are run by the DIY Week journal, and the final will take place at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel. Pextons has been serving its local community since 1933 and expanded in 2001.

Frankie Hayes, who has been at the store for a decade, said: “We’re not the biggest or most modern, but we stock a massive choice of products and people really seem to enjoy shopping here. After ten years of running Pextons, winning an award would be absolutely brilliant.”

Staff said Pextons also supported local charities, and worked alongside local police and City of York Council on various local neighbourhood projects.