A POPULAR toy shop in Worcester city centre is up for a prestigious award.

The British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) has announced the finalists for the Toy Retailer of the Year Awards 2021.

A Worcester shop which has faced a difficult year with lockdowns and a road closure during the busy Christmas period.

Toys and Games of Worcester on Broad Street is up for the Independent Toy Retailer of the Year (single store).

The store, owned by Tim Evans, is up against Giddy Goat Toys in Manchester and  McGreevy’s Toys Direct in County Mayo, Ireland.

Speaking about the shortlist, Mr Evans said he was 'chuffed to bits' with the nomination.

He said: "Chuffed to bits. Great team, great customers, great city!"

A spokesman for the BTHA said: "In another challenging year, the judges were impressed with the high standard of entries received and the achievements made by all of the finalists, and said deliberations to finalise the shortlists were long and hard because of the standard of entries received."

The awards recognise outstanding performers within the independent, specialist multiple, grocer, department store and online retail channels, with a judging panel made up of nationwide industry experts from BTHA membership, the BTHA Council and the toy industry press.

The winners of the prestigious Toy Retailer of the Year Awards including Overall Toy Retailer of the Year will be announced, along with any other special BTHA awards, during Toy Fair 2022 with the Toy Retailers Association (TRA), who will also announce the Toy and Supplier Award winners for 2021.

It is a good end to a difficult month for the shop which, along with other Broad Street traders, faced being cut off from the rest of the city.

It was the 'worst case scenario' for retailers who were blocked off during the start of the busy Christmas shopping period and the first day of the Worcester Victorian Fayre.

Broad Street was closed off after contractors warned the Poundland building, owned by Crown Estates, was at risk of partial closure.

It has since reopened though work continues at the unsafe building.