Could this be the best high street in the country?

Mayor of Mirfield Coun Vivien Lees-Hamilton said the stretch of Huddersfield Road was a classic example of thriving business and hoped it would be successful in a campaign to win this year’s Great British High Street Competition.

She said: “We have pretty much everything – a butcher, a baker, we haven’t got a candlestick maker yet but there’s still time.”

Later this month Mirfield will find out if it has been named a finalist and the result will then go to a public vote.

Town councillor Alan Burton, who led the bid, said the aim was to promote the town as a centre for business.

“It would be great to have more people come here to work and for more people to open up shops,” he said.

“You don’t want a load of empty shops with to let signs outside them. It’s a good town and we want to make it even better.”

Coun Hamilton said the range and character of Mirfield’s businesses could give it the edge.

“We have a diverse selection of shops. It’s a truly vibrant high street and I think Mirfield should be in the competition.

Coun Burton said: “We have a lot of local shops for local people – it’s a bit like Royston Vasey.”

The winning towns will claim a share of £50,000, which will be split across several categories based on the type of settlement.

Last year’s big winner was Belper in Derbyshire but no Yorkshire towns or cities came out on top in any category.

The contest is part of a plan by the Department for Communities and Local Government to revitalise the nation’s high streets.

Visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/high-street-of-the-year-award.