A transformed part of Brighton has been shortlisted as one of Great Britain’s best high streets.

London Road is in the running for a share of a £50,000 prize after national judges recognised the radical overhaul of the area in recent years.

It has been named alongside streets in Pendle and York in the local parade category of the Great British High Street Awards.

Judges recognised the incredible transformation of the area, which has seen the number of empty shops fall from one in six down to one in twelve in two years as well as a significant drop in crime and anti-social behaviour.

They said London Road is an area now better known for its “fresh food and strong community spirit” than being associated with drink and drug abuse.

Entries were whittled down to a shortlist of 21 from more than 135 high streets.

London Road and the other finalists will now be visited by a member of the judging panel from the Future High Street Forum, with a winner to be selected for each category next month.

Ward councillor Pete West said the award was great recognition for all that has been going on in the area over recent years.

He said while the Portas Pilot project by shopping guru and television personality Mary Portas had taken a lot of the praise, London Road’s success was due to factors including work by CityClean, private investment and the “instrumental” work of the local action team.

He added: “It’s such an important place for the entire city.

“It’s great that it’s being lifted and with the Open Market, which is so key and is only just opening, things are only just beginning.”

The Portas Pilot scheme has seen £83,000 of Government funding invested in the area.

Chris Gull is manager of The Emporium arts bar, which moved into a converted church in London Road in May last year.

He said: “I think London Road is a great example of how high streets are changing and moving from shopping areas to where people can have leisure time and a mixture of things coming in.

“Over the last two years it has gone from being very run down and neglected to becoming a destination in Brighton and that is quite an achievement.

“I am very, very pleased that the area is coming on and it’s great credit to the vision of people working here and for companies like us I guess who took the plunge.”