THE best toy shop in the North is right here in Ramsbottom.

For Little Treasures has been named Best Independent Top Shop despite being open for less than a year.

The shop on Bolton Street beat more than 100 others to scoop the prestigious award, which was judged by the British Toy and Hobby Association and the Toy Retailers Association.

Caroline Duthie owner of the shop, which opened last April, said: “We are delighted and it makes all our hard work worth while.

“It’s opened a lot of doors for us and hopefully we will get some bigger sellers and greater variety in the shop. It is a friendly place for families to come in and we know what it’s like to be parents. That is what makes us different.”

Little Treasures features bespoke toys and children’s furniture, including a 16ft dragon which hangs from the ceiling and a huge gingerbread house.

Co-worker, Jamie Donnolly, who builds children’s furniture for the shop, accepted a trophy during a ceremony at the O2 arena in London last week.

A spokesperson from the Toy and Hobby Association said: “The judges chose Little Treasures because it had beautiful displays, it was really novel and they made so much effort to display the toys.”