STAFF at the Earlston Co-op are celebrating after being crowned as Scotland’s best forecourt retailer in the Best Forecourt Retailer Awards 2016.

The awards, which took place at the London Hilton last week, celebrate the best of British petrol retailing and are organised in association with Forecourt Trader Magazine.

Earlston Co-op, which employs 19 staff, was credited for its clever forecourt design, wide-range of in-store facilities and the strong emphasis that is given to choice and convenience with fresh food, meal deals and essentials all competitively priced.

Sandra Todd, store manager at the Melrose Road Co-op, told the Border Telegraph: “We’re absolutely thrilled to win such a prestigious national award – it’s testament to the hard work of the team who have worked tirelessly to establish the store as an indispensable part of the local community in just under a year.”

The 3,900 square feet store, which opened in December, 2015, following a £400,000 transformation, features a 16-nozzle JET petrol station.

Located on the A68 its customer-base is made up of local residents, lorry and van drivers, holiday-makers and day-trippers.

Merril Boulton, editor of Forecourt Trader magazine, added: “The awards are the showcase for the petrol retailing industry – recognising and rewarding those businesses at the leading edge of their profession that continue to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.

"They are a measure of the high operating standards and entrepreneurial skills demonstrated by petrol retailers nationwide, who set the standards to which others aspire.”