Skipton High Street could be crowned the UK's best.

To win the title of "Great Street of the Year 2009" it has already beaten dozens of the nation's prime locations and is through to the last three.

And it is in illustrious company - its rivals in the final are London shopping hotspots Kensington High Street and Portobello Road.

The competition is organised by the Academy of Urbanism Awards, which promote "inspired urban design and creative place-shaping".

Skipton High Street has already won through two lots of preliminaries and on the way has knocked out Donegall Street, Belfast; High Street, Deal; High Street, Oxford; High Street, Rochester; High Street, Wells; Princes Street, Edinburgh and Royal Crescent, Bath.

When the Herald broke the news, Skipton town mayor Coun Carole Manley said: "Wow! That's fantastic. I'm really delighted. Skipton is a delightful town. It's lovely to walk around and seeing the lovely architecture, variety on the market, the characters you meet is something I really, really enjoy.

"I just hope that the judges will go for the Yorkshire twang rather than the London accent."

The Academy of Urbanism Awards event is hailed as a chance for architects, developers and members of local authorities to "honour design that contributes towards a sense of civic pride and quality of life".

This week, at a dinner in Cutler's Hall, Sheffield, it announced the finalists for all its categories: European City of the Year; Great Town of the Year; Great Neighbourhood of the Year; Great Street of the Year and Great Place of the Year.

The academy's director of communications, Linda Gledstone, said: "When nominations are in they are narrowed down eventually to 10 in each category and then down to three.

"Then we set up an assessment team who will get in touch with people in Skipton - architects, members of the council or other bodies connected with the area - before coming to visit, probably in July or August. The winner will be announced later in the year."

Skipton town centre manager Dave Parker said: "To make it to the final three in a UK-wide competition like this is a significant achievement for the town - particularly as the competition is based around the views of visitors and residents, rather than just a team of so-called expert judges," he said.

"I'm sure that a good few people will perhaps try to question how little old Skipton could become the last remaining opponent against two of the most famous streets in the world.

"Perhaps, sometimes, we can be too close to something to really appreciate it. But if you stand in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church and look down the High Street on a sunny, bustling, market day, it takes a lot of beating, as this competition proves."

Joan Evans, president of Skipton Chamber of Trade, said the announcement would be the main topic of conversation at the Chamber's annual meeting this week.

"I think this is really exciting," she said. "When you think of the competition we have beaten so far it is amazing.

"People don't often realise what they have on their doorstep. Skipton is a lovely town and to be in the running for such an award is absolutely wonderful."

Martin Emmerson, who has had a stall on Skipton market for 25 years, said he could see why Skipton had been short-listed.

"We are like the other two finalists, but on a smaller scale," he said.

Contenders for each category were first nominated by the public in a nationwide vote.

Skipton survived the first round of cuts in April and a second round this week to find itself in the final.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in St George's Hall, Liverpool, on November 26.