AN INDEPENDENT bookshop is celebrating after beating the big boys to scoop a top prize at a national awards ceremony. David s Bookshop in Eastcheap, Letchworth GC, won the marketing campaign of the year category at the Bookseller Retail Awards, fighting o

AN INDEPENDENT bookshop is celebrating after beating the big boys to scoop a top prize at a national awards ceremony.

David's Bookshop in Eastcheap, Letchworth GC, won the marketing campaign of the year category at the Bookseller Retail Awards, fighting off competition from large chains including Blackwell's, Borders, Ottakar's and W H Smith.

The shop's entry was based around World Book Day and included sale days, all-night opening, sponsored reading, school book fairs, children's events and book-related debates.

The judges said David's Bookshop had achieved "astonishing results" on a slim budget.

Paul Wallace, manager of the shop, said the period had been a success due to the support from book-loving North Herts residents.

He added: "The shortlist contains almost all large corporate chains, so to say we were surprised is an understatement.

"We are also very grateful to all our customers, volunteer readers, speakers and of course our very hard-working staff."

The shop was presented with a trophy at an awards dinner at the Natural History Museum which was attended by 500 industry figures and authors.