Sue Porter, owner of Linghams on Telegraph Road, and her team are celebrating recognition given to them today by the British book industry.

Sue, who, before the pandemic struck, had turned Heswall's bookstore and cafe into one of the most important places to launch a book outside London, has battled through COVID restrictions and lockdowns by running a click and collect service for local book buyers, and going online to great effect to maintain the spirit of her popular literary events with authors.

The British Book Awards 2021, or Nibbies, represent the best of the book trade - the UK's leading creative industry - and the annual celebration of the best that books have to offer will return on 13th May with a virtual ceremony.

First launched in 1990 and now run by The Bookseller, the British Book Awards and its sister awards schemes – The British Book Award for Export and Library of the Year – showcase and celebrate the best books, the best publishers, and the best bookshops.

Linghams has been named a Regional Finalist for the North of England and, if the shop goes on to win, would be in with a chance later of winning the coveted award of Independent Bookshop of the Year for the second time.

Linghams claimed the title back in 2013 when the shop was owned by Eleanor and Peter Davies.

Today Sue said: "It was a wonderful email to receive first thing this morning and fabulous to be part of this.

"Times are extremely tough for retail and hospitality at the moment so we have to shout about any good news.

"We are still open behind closed doors, click and collect, phones manned 10am to 3pm, Wednesday to Friday, and we have lots of virtual events coming up, including Marian Keyes, Alexander McCall Smith, Peter May and Tracey Thorn - and more to follow!"

You can find the details by clicking or tapping here to reach the Linghams website.

And you can follow the shop on social media @linghamsbooks

Congratulations to Sue and the team there, and to all the other nominees across the country.