A North Yorkshire village shop and post office has been named a 2015 finalist in the annual celebration of rural enterprise.

Barkers’ of Huby Community Shop which was taken into community ownership has made the shortlist for the 2015 Countryside Alliance Awards which will be announced at the House of Lords in the Spring.

The awards are the Countryside Alliance’s celebration of rural produce, skills, enterprise and heritage through small hard-working businesses.

The awards are public-nomination led across four categories: Local Food – in which Langthorne Buffalo, of Brompton, Northallerton, was nominated; Village Shop/ Post Office – in which Barkers’ of Huby was nominated; Butcher and Tourism Enterprise.

Judges have selected ten finalists in each category from thousands of nominations.

Earlier this year, more than 400 villagers from Huby and Sutton-on-the-Forest collectively raised £52,000 to safeguard the future of their only village shop and post office by buying it through a Community Benefit Society.

The store and post office had been owned by husband and wife team David and Lesley Barker for more than 26 years. When Mrs Barker died last September, Mr Barker decided it was time to retire.

Sutton Community Shop ltd has been set up as a not-for-profit company, chaired by businesswoman Denise Howard, which has taken over running it.

Nominations describe Barkers’ of Huby as bringing the entire village together. Staffed and run by volunteers, it offers work experience for local youngsters and forms a vital service to the village.

Langthorne Buffalo is a farm shop and café, offering local products. All the livestock is born, raised and slaughtered on site and much comes from rare breeds.

Countryside Alliance Awards director Jill Grieve said: “We have been overwhelmed by nominations this year, so for Barkers’ and Langthorne Buffalo to get this far is a huge achievement for them. The secret to the Rural Oscars’ popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses and not just their produce or services. They exist to sing the praises of those who work hard to keep our communities and rural economy ticking, but don’t seek the spotlight. The Barkers and Langthorne Buffalo staff are a very good example of all that’s best about local businesses."