HEREFORD residents can bask in the knowledge that their city boasts the top Carphone Warehouse in the UK.

The mobile phone store, on Commercial Road, came out at the top of a tightly contested shortlist to be named National Branch of the Year at the first Carphone Warehouse National Retail Awards.

The awards were presented to the winners by BBC sports pundit John Inverdale at a glittering ceremony in London last week.

Branch manager Stephan Hirst stepped up to accept the accolade for the branch.

"I'm delighted to pick up this award on behalf of everyone at the store," he said.

"It is at times like this that all the hard work seems worth it."

The Carphone Warehouse plans to host an awards ceremony every year to give the firm an opportunity to recognise employees, which it says it believes are integral to the company's continuing success.