A CLOTHES shop beat off hundreds of nominees to scoop first place at a prestigious awards.

Harts of Monmouth were crowned winners in the Reference Shop category at Stars Underlines Best Shop Awards 2017 on Thursday, November 9.

The family-run business was initially shortlisted into a group of 16 for the Reference Shop category, out of a pool of 400 nominees across the UK.

The awards ceremony was held at Shakespeare’s Under-Globe and celebrated the best stores, shops and e-commerce sites in the underwear, swimwear and legwear industries.

Carrie Francis, manager at Harts of Monmouth said: “The Stars Best Shop Awards are the only industry nominated awards available so to win is amazing.

"We have worked incredibly hard over the last 24 months with our ‘pop up’ fitting events and numerous seminars so to have recognition for our hard work is amazing.

"We believe we have something for everyone and to win the ‘Reference Shop’ category has proven this as it says the industry have recognised that we hold a huge selection of styles, shapes and sizes. We are proud to have won this award and will strive to continue to keep up our high-standards."