CO-OP shops in the North-East have won acclaim at the Store of the Year awards.

Twenty-one shops from around the region were in the final, competing for various titles.

The Hexham branch came top in the superstores and larger market town stores category while Kirkby Stephen, in Cumbria, won the market town store prize. The shop in Sacriston, near Durham, was named the best convenience and welcome store in the North-East and Cumbria. Each store got £1,000 in vouchers for their staff's social fund.

Senior managers visited all 141 Co-op stores in the region judging customer care, promotions and staff training.