Ludlow is second best market town in Britain
Ludlow has received national exposure after being named runner-up in a competition for market towns across Britain.
The town took second place in the Britain's Favourite Market Town category of the Countryfile Magazine Awards 2012. It was beaten to first place by Louth in Lincolnshire, while Richmond in North Yorkshire came third. Ludlow was nominated by countryside writer and TV presenter Nicholas Crane.
Mr Crane last year championed the town in his BBC2 series Town with Nicholas Crane.
He praised Ludlow for its historic buildings, which include the Feathers Hotel and Guildhall which both date back hundreds of years. The medieval town also came up trumps for its Norman castle and the weekly food market run in the town centre.
The results were determined by votes from magazine readers. The news has been greeted with delight by tourism bosses who have said it is a boost for Ludlow and Shropshire as a whole.
Claire Owen from Shropshire Tourism thanked everyone who voted for Ludlow to win the award. She said: "This is fantastic news for Ludlow and for Shropshire.
Shropshire Tourism has been encouraging people to vote since April when it was announced that Ludlow had been nominated and we are delighted with the announcement today from Countryfile Magazine.
Fergus Collins, editor of Countryfile Magazine, said the awards thanked those who work hard to protect the nation's heritage.
He said: "The Countryfile Magazine Awards are a great way for the magazine and its readers to celebrate the best of the British countryside. Essentially, we're saying a heartfelt thanks to all those who work so hard to protect our landscapes, heritage and wildlife."
