PATRIOTIC shops in Worcester flew the flag for a right royal summer celebration.

The Great British Summer Weekend arranged by Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) saw 48 city centre shops create spectacular displays for a window dressing competition run in partnership with your Worcester News.

Readers had the chance to vote and each shop was visited by a professional visual merchandiser, with Worcester Live’s Support The Arts shop in the Shambles crowned the winner.

Manager Maria Garcia said she was delighted.

“Particularly good fun was the ‘guess the sweets in the jar’ competition for a family ticket to The Tempest at the Commandery,” she said.

Coming a close second was Hopmarket-based vintage clothes shop Second Hand Rose, which impressed with its 1950s picnic-themed display including ice creams and sandwiches made out of sponge.

Owner Clare Bridge said she was thrilled with the accolade and was planning a special window display to show off their trophy.

“It’s really important for independent shops to show themselves off and making the most of our merchandise through window displays is a brilliant free advert to draw in the public,” she said.

The runners-up prize was awarded to Rock Follies in Reindeer Court, which impressed with a red, white and blue-themed display of items from the 1940s through to the 1980s.

The two-day event saw visitors to the city centre enjoy locally-made food and drink as well as range of activities including guess the amount of beans in a jar, hook-a-duck and a surf simulator.

Worcester BID marketing and events officer Nadja von Dahlen said she was pleased by how well the weekend’s event had gone.

“It was great to see so many event visitors enjoying the variety of entertainment and activities on offer in all areas of the pedestrianised centre,”

she said. “We have spoken to a number of people who were very pleasantly surprised how much our city has got to offer. The engagement by local businesses, along with this wonderful weather, was a key contributor to the Great British Summer Weekend’s success.”