IT'S already been named as one of the UK's hippest areas and now Bishopthorpe Road is making a bid to be crowned the Great British High Street of the Year.

Bishopthorpe Road has been entered into the Great British High Street of the Year awards, and local people are being asked to back the bid.

Last year the Clementhorpe area was ranked at ninth place in The Times top 30 of the coolest places to live, and likened to Notting Hill, beating Jesmond in Newcastle, Jericho in Oxford and Kemp Town in Brighton.

The application in the 'local parade of shops' category was submitted by the Bishy Road Traders Association, which represents about 60 independent and not for profit organisations that trade on or around the Bishopthorpe Road area.

Johnny Hayes, chairman of the Bishy Road Traders Association, said: “We had a look at the criteria and thought that our own street stood up rather well against it so decided why not give it a go. The judges are looking for high streets that are linked closely to their communities and that is what we try and do here. At the very least we get to fly the flag for York.

“Bishopthorpe Road is a fine example of a thriving local shopping area. At its core is an ethos built on the power of hard work and determination, where business work together to protect and enhance the community they serve.

"Our actions are not purely about making money. It is about giving something back. And that something is a street which the community calls its own, where people know you by name, where sustainable jobs are created, virtually anything you need is sold and great street parties are thrown. Every community needs a street like Bishy Road."

The association is appealing for support of the nomination, particularly by usingTwitter to show their support using the hashtag #GBHighSt to accompany tweets and images.

Judging will take place during September and October. The winners will be announced during November 2014.

Clementhorpe – which includes streets near to Bishopthorpe Road and Terry Avenue - was last year described by The Times as being a once boring suburb until a number of cafés and a deli opened in “Bishy Road”.

The website for the Great British High Street awards is thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk