A ROSSENDALE businesswoman has scooped the highest accolade in fashion's answer to the Oscars.

Jan Shutt from Sunday Best won the title of Womenswear Retailer of the Year and then went on to beat 34 top British retailers - including Oasis and Richards - to win the prestigious Fashion Retailer of the Year 1997.

Celebrity Jonathon Ross presented Jan with her award at a plush ceremony in the Dinosaur Room at London's Natural History Museum.

She beat hundreds of hopefuls to win the premier title, sponsored by American Express, the second award she has won this year after being named Olsen's Fashion Retailer of the Year.

Jan also makes outfits for film and television and counts English Patient actress Kristen Scott Thomas and Rawtenstall-born actress Jane Horrocks among her customers.

She said: "This is proving to be a marvellous year for us.

"I am absolutely thrilled. I was totally shell-shocked when Jonathon Ross announced that Sunday Best had won."

Jan launched the Rawtenstall company 26 years ago and has appeared on TV shows The Clothes Show, Rags to Riches and Wear it Well.

She added: "I've never entered the awards before and really didn't imagine I would win.

"This is a real thrill and I have to say it has been a real team effort by Sunday Best."

She also received two miniature mannequins and a framed certificate to go with her award.

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