One of the North-East's most scenic communities has made it to the final five in a high-profile search to determine England's favourite market town.
Hexham will be under the watchful eye of judges from Country Life magazine over the next few weeks, and will be competing against Stamford in Lincolnshire, Framlingham in Suffolk and Alresford in Hampshire for the award.
A fifth contender for the South-West of England has yet to be announced.
Rolex Ladies WatchIn 2002, it was a Country Life survey which saw Alnwick declared the best place in the country to live.
Since then the town of just 8,000 inhabitants has gone from being a rural backwater to one of the most sought-after places to live in the North-East ( with a property price boom to match.
Fighting in the Hexham corner will be the Rt Rev David Hope, former Archbishop of York.
He is joined on the panel by actress Penelope Keith, High Sheriff of Surrey in 2002, for the South-East of England, BBC Countryfile presenter Ben Fogle for the Midlands, Noel Edmonds, head of The Renewable Energy Foundation, for the South West, and John Gummer MP for East Anglia.
There is a definite sense here of a town with a pride and a purpose, the Rev Hope said of Hexham.
embroidered patches
He said it was also a town that was friendly and welcoming, a place where people mattered and visitors were made to feel at home. The town also retained a strong community spirit, and its focus lay with the magnificent Hexham Abbey and surrounding gardens.
The judges said that when viewed alongside the newly-renovated Queen's Hall and award-winning station, the town is clearly one which takes great pride in its appearance.
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