The Best Rural Retailers in Wessex have been declared in the Countryside Alliance's third annual competition.

The winners will now represent the best of the region as they vie for a national title against winners from the rest of the UK.

The competition was devised by the Countryside Alliance as a way of celebrating communities, skills and produce through the retailers who work to keep rural life ticking.

Run across 12 UK regions and four categories, the 2007 competition received over 2,500 nominations, all passionately in support of retailers. Of the 15 shortlisted retailers in the region, the winners are: Best Shop / PO Category: Nettleton Village Post Office and Stores, Nettleton, Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Delly says: "This is a hugely difficult category to judge because our village shop-keepers and sub-postmasters form the hearts of every rural community, but Di Bell is a very special lady who has inspired particular devotion of her customers. She received dozens of nominations from people of all ages, all praising her warm nature and the fact that she is a lifeline who always goes above and beyond the call of duty.

With the threat of closure looming over many Post Offices in the region it is the perfect time to emphasise that our branches are about the soul of country life, not just about stamps and car tax. Many of Di's customers said that the village would change for the worse without her, which is why I am delighted to honour her in this competition and raise the profile of our embattled Post Offices. Long may Di continue!"

Best Local Food Category: Goldy's, Wareham, Dorset.

Best Diversification Category: The Ginger Piggery, Boyton, Wiltshire.

Delly says: "Caroline impressed me last year with this amazing diversification project, but she has done so much in the past year that I was even more bowled over. This set of derelict farm buildings is now a vibrant farm shop, restaurant, craft centre and educational hub as schools come on regular tours to meet the animals and find out more about local food. Caroline cooks for her local schools every Tuesday and her commitment to educating, feeding and supporting her local community is absolutely exceptional." www.thegingerpiggery.co.uk Best Traditional Business Category: Glyn Slade-Jones, Kington, Herefordshire.

"Glyn and his family typify all that is best about traditional rural retailers - they are all larger-than-life characters with an infectious enthusiasm for local produce, and their support for their local community is total. His customers are evangelical about his products, with many saying they will never buy meat anywhere else. Glyn has a real entrepreneurial spirit and you are delighted to feel that, with our rural butchery heritage in the hands of people like him, local produce and community life are safe for future generations."