A TOWN centre pub has been named among the top 16 in the country – and is now in the running to be Britain's best.

The Cricketers Arms, based on Peter Street on the edge of the town centre, was listed as one of the leading drinking venues by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, to mark the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2016, which is published this week.

The 'Cricks' and the 15 others on the list are now vying for the crown of National CAMRA Pub of the Year award.

The nomination marks yet another success for the premises, which has already scooped St Helens CAMRA pub of the year and Merseyside pub of the year gongs this year. The pub has also picked up the regional cider pub of the year award.

Andy Evans, who, despite no previous pub management experience, took the reins of the pub two years ago along with wife Denise and mother-in-law landlady Barbara Kenyon, and puts the pub's success down to "attention to the small detail".

During the past two years, there have been hundreds of beers available and they have focused on introducing cask ales.

Pubs are judged in the competition on their atmosphere, decor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix and their quality of beer and the shortlisted best pubs were released to mark the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2016.

The National Pub of the Year for 2015 will be announced in February of next year.