Town is hoping to be streets ahead

It has been dubbed as one of the prettiest, quintessentially English streets in the whole of Shropshire. Now Broad Street in Ludlow could be crowned the best in England.

The picturesque thoroughfare, which boasts Georgian buildings, an ancient archway dating between 1233 and 1304, and quirky individual shops, will now do battle with nine other towns for the title of Britain's Best Street 2010.

It has been shortlisted in the UK's Most Picturesque Street category in the Google Street View Awards to be announced in March.

Traders and residents were delighted that the place they live and work has received such recognition.

Ludlow's mayor Martin Taylor-Smith said: "On top of the other recent accolades the town has received this is very much the icing on the cake and confirms what many other locals feel as well."

Chris Wilding, who grew up in Ludlow, said: "Broad Street used to be quite an historic street. It has changed quite a bit since I was a little girl although the tea shop has been here for as long as I can remember.

"It is a really lovely street and it is really nice when people come to visit."

Sadie Roberts, of James and Co in Broad Street, added: "It is pretty because of all the black and white houses and the individual shops that people like.

"Everything on the street is individual. I don't think you appreciate what you have got until you go away and come back because all the little places are individually owned you get more personality in them as well. We are very lucky."

The street was shortlisted for one of three categories by Google's panel of experts which includes VisitBritain, Lonely Planet, TV presenter Julia Bradbury, fashion designer Jeff Banks and editor of Glamour, Jo Elvin.

And the three winning streets will be crowned Britain's Best Street 2010 in each relevant category.

Google will work with the winning streets to create a Google Street View tour, to highlight the key retailers and points of interest, allowing the world to find out more about the nation's final choices.

The awards have been created ahead of more images being added to Google's Street View tool, which allows users to view and navigate 360 degree street-level imagery in 25 British towns, including many of those nominated for the Street View Awards.

Later this year, Street View will be rolled out to cover additional streets from around the UK.