SHOPPERS in Huddersfield can expect a good level of customer service after the town’s outlets were rated the third best in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Mystery shoppers from Retail Eyes carried out 138,430 visits throughout the country, rating shops for their standards of customer service.

Huddersfield’s outlets scored an approval rating of 82.18%.

Shops in York came top with an 82.67% approval rating. Harrogate was second with 82.24% and Leeds fourth with 81.90%.

Wakefield was voted the worst in Yorkshire, with a score of 79.52%.

Tony Coletta chairs Huddersfield traders’ group, Town First, and also owns Occasions gift shop on Market Avenue.

He said: “I think Huddersfield was voted the so highly because we have a lot more independent shops than other places.

“Independent shop owners offer a better standard of customer service and that’s how they compete with the bigger chains.

“It doesn’t surprise me that Huddersfield came out better than the big cities.

“I think we give more of an intimate service and people aren’t too busy to be polite and say please and thank you.”

Retail Eyes chief executive Tim Ogle said shop owners and assistants were making an effort to be more helpful and friendly during the credit crunch.