There are few that come to the Hay Festival that don’t take time out to visit the town and browse its famous second-hand bookshops, sample some Ewe’s milk ice cream and wander round the castle’s crumbling ramparts.     So splendid is the experience that Castle Street in Hay has been short listed in the Google Street View Awards.

The scheme is a celebration of Britain’s best streets and votes are open in the nationwide poll.

There are 3 categories and Castle Street is in the Britain’s Best Shopping Street section up against the likes of Glasgow’s Buchanan Street and Belfast’s Royal Avenue.  Voting closes next Sunday 22nd May 2011 and the winners will be announced in June.