A west Suffolk town has been crowned the most dog-friendly in the whole of the UK - a year after it won silver in the same competition.
The DogFriendly Awards named Bury St Edmunds as the winner of the accolade at an awards ceremony in London on Thursday.
The town took silver in the UK category last year, and won the crown for English towns.
The awards recognise dog-friendly places that "go the extra mile" for the UK's 12.5 million pooches and the winners are chosen by public vote.
In Bury St Edmunds about 140 shops, eateries, places to stay and attractions have signed up to a dog-friendly scheme - distinguishable by a blue paw print logo sticker in the window and a water bowl.
Mark Cordell, chief executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, which now includes the town’s official tourism brand Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, said: “It is fantastic that Bury St Edmunds not only reached the finals for a second successive year, but has gone one better and is now the most dog friendly town in the UK.
"On behalf of all the businesses, thank you to everyone who voted for us."
He said many businesses welcome dogs with menu items, free snacks and more, meaning residents and visitors can stay longer in the town and don't have to leave their four-legged friend at home.
“In addition, this last year the town's tour guides have started to offer dog friendly tours to visitors and St Edmundsbury Cathedral, which is also dog friendly, has even published a dogs of the Cathedral calendar for 2025 so there are even more reasons for waggy tails all round," he added.
Jon Kay, from Camp Tails Doggy Daycare, who founded the town’s dog-friendly scheme with help from Bury St Edmunds Town Council, Our Bury St Edmunds BID, and Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, added: “I was honoured to represent Bury St Edmunds at the awards ceremony again and so proud to receive the award on behalf of local businesses and a passionate group behind the scenes going over and above to make our canine chums welcome.
"It was an amazing day although we had our fingers and paws crossed right up until the announcement.
"I’d like to thank everyone who voted for us and recognised all that Bury St Edmunds does to be dog friendly."
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