A Hornchurch shopper has bagged �100 in Havering Council’s “Best of British” competition.

More than 2,000 people entered the draw by voting for their favourite shop decorations in Hornchurch town centre. Forty-five shops decked themselves out in patriotic red, white and blue, marking a summer that has seen Britain celebrate the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The successful entrant, Amanda Craig of Elm Park, will be able to spend her prize in the winning store, gift shop Hamiltons, in Station Lane.

Amanda said: “I was thrilled and surprised to find out I had won. I never win anything. I thought the competition was a great idea and the shops had made a great effort with their decorations.

“It was really hard to choose, to be honest – they were all really good.”

The council ran the competition to celebrate and support independent businesses in Hornchurch.