SHARP-EYED young shoppers have picked up prizes by helping to boost trade in Bishop Auckland town centre shops.

Isha Shakir, three, who lives in South Church, carried off a giant teddy after she spotted ten tiny bears in the windows of Bishop Auckland stores.

Her sister Aleena, aged 11 months, won one of the smaller toys as a runner-up in the competition, which was organised by the Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum.

Their prizes were presented by Craig Brown, a sales assistant at Vodaphone's Newgate Street outlet.

At another ceremony in electric retailers JC Ellis, Sophie Teasdale, eight, was given a colour television for finding and naming former Bishops of Durham scattered around the town.

Her prize was presented by James Lowther, from the Grosvenor Collective of Artists, who produced the models of the bishops.

Town centre manager Ken Wilson said the competitions, which were run during the summer months, were a way of encouraging more people to shop in Bishop Auckland town centre.

He said: "We are doing everything we can to make people stay around longer and maybe shop while they are here."