DARLINGTON businesses are being urged to sign up for the chance to be named the UK’s Independent of the Year in a national competition.

Distinct Darlington, formed to promote the town centre and encourage shoppers and visitors from across the region, has entered the annual Kerching retail awards as the ambassador for Darlington town centre’s independent retailers.

Now, it is calling on all independent traders in the business improvement district to take part.

Alex Hirst, manager of Distinct Darlington, said: “Our town centre traders are some of the best in the UK and we think it’s time they got the chance to shine in a national competition.

“So we are urging all of them, from shops, cafes and restaurants to salons, pubs and market traders, to sign up for these awards.”

To enter, businesses must register at independentoftheyear.org before the end of June and upload a brief description of their business along with an image.

The competition will then be open to a public vote, run through the Distinct Darlington Facebook page.

The business with the most likes and shares will then go forward to represent Darlington in the national finals, going head to head with some of the UK’s best loved firms.

For further information about the competition, which is only open to independent shops with a high street presence, visit distinctdarlington.co.uk