A REDDITCH store has scooped multiple accolades at a prestigious award ceremony.

Biddles Simply Fresh, which has been trading 30 years, started life as a greengrocers but was converted into a Simply Fresh two years ago.

The store is well-established as a hub of the local community and thanks to its in-store kitchen is able to offer home-made pies and ready meals as well as a huge select ion of locally sourced fruit and veg, bread and fresh meat.

Owner Simon Biddle and his team have cultivated strong links with the community and the store regularly supports initiatives for both the elderly and local schoolchildren.

The store was recently crowned winner of the Independent Retailer of the Year award and ‘Highly Commended’ in the Chilled Retailer of the Year (Independent) category, at the 2014 Retail Industry Award.

Now entering its 19th year, the Oscar-style awards reward excellence across a raft of different categories and is the only time when the whole industry gets together to recognise and reward the smallest independent retailers alongside the largest supermarket groups.

The black tie ceremony was held at London’s five star Grosvenor House Hotel with comedian, Andy Parsons, among the main presenters.

Mr Biddle said: "We’re absolutely thrilled with our winnings. I’d like to thank all of our consistently hard working staff and also our customers for their support and loyalty to Biddle’s throughout the years.

"We could not have done this without the support of our staff and our community."