AN ABERAERON books shop is in the running to be named the best book store in Wales.

Gwisgo Bookworm has been shortlisted in the regional finals of the British Book Awards for 2022.

The competition celebrates the best independent bookshops across the country with six finalists being named in Wales.

Gwisgo Bookworm are in the final with Book-ish in Crickhowell; Chepstow Books & Gifts; Cover To Cover in Swansea; Griffin Books in Penarth and The Bookshop in Mold.

The shops will compete to win their region first, before vying for the overall prize, which will be announced at The British Book Awards winner ceremony on Monday 23 May.

The overall Independent Bookshop of the Year winner will also compete to be crowned Retailer of the Year.

The Independent Bookshop of the Year Award celebrates those stores that have continued to support local communities with magnificent books, which have provided enjoyment, distraction and succour for the nation’s readers during these turbulent times.

The past two years have seen independent bookshops up and down the UK and the Island of Ireland completely transform their operational models in order to get books into the hands of readers.

This has ranged from bicycle deliveries to local customers, to booksellers rapidly building new e-commerce platforms, while also creating new channels for interactive video content to replace in-person events.

Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller’s managing editor, says: “The received wisdom in the book trade when the pandemic first hit was that independent booksellers might be the most vulnerable.

“They have proved anything but as through close ties to their communities, indies have flourished for the last two years.”

The 2022 regional and country winners will be announced on Wednesday 16 March.