Results day for Pateley Bridge in the Great British High Street competition

It seems everyone across the Dale - and beyond - has been supporting the town's incredibly impressive bid and the Nidderdale Herald is no different.

That's why we are saying "best of luck" to Keith Tordoff and Kirsty Shepherd from Nidderdale Chamber of Trade who will be travelling down to London next week to representing Pateley's bid team.

Keith Tordoff said: "For Pateley Bridge to be announced winners it would be fantastic for the whole area and community as the area would be receiving an accolade which everyone can be proud of.

"We remain hopeful that all the hard work the bid team and supporters of Pateley Bridge did will be enough to get us over the winning line."

The final result will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at Lancaster House in London next Monday.

The outcome depends on a combination of a daily public vote held online last month and the verdict of a judging panel which visited the three finalists in turn.

For the winner the stakes are high in this government-organised competition sponsored by the likes of Boots, The Post Office and M&S.

Winners in each category will not only get a share of prize pot worth £100,000, they’ll also receive expert training from Google’s digital taskforce for shops, bars and restaurants and a trip to Twitter UK’s London office to boost their social media skills.

Pateley Bridge faces competition from two rivals - Kirkby Lonsdale on the edge of the Lake District and the ancient market town of Langport in Somerset.

Online voting seems to have gone well for Pateley with support from across the globe.

And Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon threw his weight behind Pateley Bridge in Parliament.

Whatever happens on the big day, however, the shopkeepers and residents of Pateley Bridge have shown the strength of community power.

Keith Tordiff thinks the town is already a winner and will continue to prosper in the coming months and years whatever the result is.

Keith said: "We are already winners in the sense it is a massive achievement to be down to the last few finalists in a competition which had over 900 entries.

"For all types of businesses it is something that they can use when advertising or on promotional material which potentially brings additional businesses revenue for them.

"But, just imagine, with the Tour De Yorkshire coming down Pateley Bridge High Street next year, it would be great to have banners across the street on Saturday, April 29 saying 'you are now about to go down the best High Street in the country!'"