The Great British High Street: Vote now for Bridgnorth to get top award

"I call this my bench," he says, surveying the town's medieval architecture and the ornate battlements of its North Gate.

"I just like to sit here and watch the people go by, it is really nice."

The 84-year-old, who moved to the town seven years ago, is not surprised that the town's High Street has been shortlisted as one of the three best large market towns in the country, along with Market Harborough and Hinkley, both in Leicestershire.

It will now go to the public vote to decide which one of the three will be crowned national winner in the Great British High Street awards.

Vote for Bridgnorth here

So what is is that makes Bridgnorth so special? According to Victor, it is a combination of attractive buildings, a variety of different shops and friendly locals.

He says: "There are good, friendly shops, you can get most of what you want. You have got the likes of Tesco, but you have also got the smaller shops where you can get different things.

"The people are very friendly, I think it's a good place to live. I moved here from Wolverhampton, and it is very different, like chalk and cheese."

Bridgnorth was nominated for the award by Sally Themans, who lives in Church Street.

She tells the story of how she fell in love with the place 25 years ago, when she visited the first time with her future husband Johnny.

"I'm originally from London, but I married a Shropshire lad, he lived in Much Wenlock," she recalls.

"We came out one night to get an Indian takeaway, and as soon as we came through the arch I was amazed, I said 'where is this place?'.

"I told him I would move up here providing we could live in Bridgnorth."

It is a move she has never regretted.

"I have lived in Church Street for 10 years, it is so nice," says Sally, 48.

"I have nieces and friends who live in London, and they come here to do their shopping, despite all the shops that there are in London."

Mike Statham, 72, would certainly agree that it is a place worth travelling for. He emigrated to Adelaide, southern Australia in 1970, and is here on a short break while visiting his sister Margaret Hall, who lives in Oswestry.

"I'm from Birmingham originally, but my grandparents lived in Shropshire and we used to come here quite often," says Mike.

"It's a beautiful spot, Bridgnorth and Ludlow are two of my favourite towns. It's got a fantastic heritage.

"There aren't really many towns like this in Australia, you have got one or two that have Germanic influences, but not many.

"The black-and-white buildings are fantastic, I like the crosses and the fixings which hold the old timber frames together.

"I like the small shops. The supermarkets are the same everywhere, Paris, London, wherever, but it is the small, specialist shops where you can buy things you can't get elsewhere that give the town its character."

Margaret agrees. "I think it is a really nice place, it brings back memories when I come here."

Also here for the day are John and Lesley Humble, from Kidderminster. They have spent the morning shopping, and have just finished lunch at Bailey's bistro.

"You can come here and have a meal and relax," says John, who is 69.

"It is like a holiday town," says Lesley, 66. "There are so many artisan shops where you can quality goods, you can buy better goods than you can in other towns.

"In other towns, you go into the big shops like M&S and there are lots of the same things, but if you come here you can buy a jumper that no-one else has got.

"There is an art shop down the road, and you have got the toy shop here, it's value for money as well."

Kathryn Ball, from nearby Rindleford, moved to the area from Willenhall, near Walsall, just over 35 years ago.

"I think it's got an old-world charm to it, that's what makes it special," says Mrs Ball. "But the parking is rubbish, you have only got 40 minutes and you can't do much in that time. I often find it easier to go to Telford."

Sandra and Harry Nicholson, from Gloucester, are visiting relatives. They like the historic buildings but think there are too many charity shops.

Cara Hickman, 44, from Wombourne, runs the Urban Angel shoe shop on the corner of High Street and Whitburn Street.

Her business is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the town, and Cara said that when she started the business it was going to be in Bridgnorth or nowhere.

"I just love it here," she says. "There is something about it that I just knew it would be the right place.

"The customers are very loyal, and we have just the right balance of shops, you have got some of the national chains like Fat Face, which I do think add to the town because they draw people in, but you have also got the independents who give the town its variety and character.

"For a small town it's exceptionally busy – it deserves to be named the best in the country."