HOLYWELL has been named a runner up in a top high street award scheme.

The town had been shortlisted for the Great British 2018 High Street awards champion award category.

On Thursday, it was revealed that the town achieved the second place ‘highly commended’ award.

Holywell mayor Cllr Rosetta Dolphin said: “It is fantastic news and it shows what can happen when the town works together.

“It has been collaborative working with the businesses, Holywell Town Council, Flintshire Council and the residents - we’re so chuffed.

“All of it has been good for advertising Holywell and we have certainly had that.”

Cllr Dolphin said she hopes that in addition to raising the profile of Holywell, the award might help pave the way to reopening the town’s high street.

She added: “It is going to cost £800,000 to reopen the high street and Flintshire Council is looking to get some Welsh Government funding to do that.

“We are hoping that this award will help because it shows the town is really trying.

“We need to move forward now, to a better Holywell.”

Other high streets shortlisted included Powys and Carmarthenshire.

The Welsh champion high street and overall UK winner of the awards was Crickhowell high street.

A spokesman for Great British 2018 High Street awards said: “A big hand to everyone who entered – our judges were hugely impressed by all the shortlisted high streets.”

The awards webpage highlights several of Holywell High Street’s features, including the fact that to modernise and enable retailers to accept different payment method have been offered to all businesses .