THE race to crown The Northern Echo’s Best Bakery in Darlington and County Durham is now well and truly on.

With our ten finalists announced, we will be featuring each one of the next ten days – and readers can vote for their favourite to win.

Milligan's is a North East chain of bakeries, but our readers rate the one in Shildon in particular.

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Milligan’s have been serving quality and value for more than 60 years. Founded in 1946 by Norman Milligan and his wife Joan, the first Milligan’s opened on Elswick Road in Newcastle upon Tyne. Their son Lloyd Milligan soon joined the business and set about expanding the business and raising the Milligan’s brand.

Louise, the granddaughter of Norman, undertook the Milligan's flagship stores, modernising the brand and raising the company profile.

Her determination, strong work ethic, and business acumen have driven Milligan's forward – launching numerous food outlets across the North East.

Manager Kelly Curtis has ran her branch for the last two years, and said it was Milligan's more unusual flavours that kept customers returning.

She said: "Our most popular pasties are the kebab and chilli, chicken tikka and an Armadillo pasty, which is corned beef and potato.

"People just seem to love them."

She said the bakery also sells its own bread buns, cakes and doughnuts.

She added: "We are over the moon to have been nominated and made the top ten. I'm so proud of the team."

Milligan's is a family-owned group of very successful local bakery shops across the North East of England, where you enjoy freshly prepared, quality food.

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Louise Milligan's ethos is: "In a world that is fast-paced, hectic, and demanding, our stores work on a basis of sit down, relax, enjoy and let our people look after you! We believe in our waitress table service ethos.

"There is nothing worse than standing queuing for coffee or food and then not being able to find a seat, which happens in the national coffee shop chains."

To vote for your favourite bakery, cut out the voting slip in The Northern Echo and return it by post to Suite 10, Second Floor, Coniscliffe House, Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, DL3 7EE.