THE Highworth Emporium team won Best Newcomer in an awards ceremony for gift retailers.

Aga Gabrysziak and Richard Marsden took over the shop two years ago and

They sent in nominations for the Greats Gift Retailer Awards' Best Newcomer (for the South and Wales region) and Best Indoor and Window Display categories and reached the finals of both - then heard their shop's name read out as a winner.

Aga said: "We are still buzzing and excited and very proud. It was a shock at first then the smile didn't leave my face and I almost cried when they brought the award over to us, it was very emotional. This was the third time we'd reached a final but we have never won one before. Hopefully it's the first of many."

The trophy will take pride of place in the shop window while Richard works on putting up a shelf to display the trophy - with plenty of space for more.

Richard said: "Just to get to two finals was special enough but to win one and receive industry recognition from 300 of our peers for the massive amount of hard work the team have put in was wonderful.

"It was a really fun night, what a great achievement."