A TOY shop narrowly missed out in its first attempt to win a national competition.

Lamb's Stores, in Darlington, was the only toy shop in the North of England to be short-listed for annual awards run by the British Association of Toy Retailers.

But at a ceremony in London the shop was runner-up in the Northern section, which includes Scotland.

Owner Barrie Lamb said: "I was delighted to be nominated as one of the best out of the whole country, particularly as it was the first time we had entered. We will just have to try harder for next time."