The Daily Echo in Bournemouth has been named Daily Newspaper of the Year at the EDF Energy London and South of England Media Awards, one of three awards it picked up.

It also scooped Columnist of the Year, with a win for Faith Eckersall, and Environmental Journalist of the Year, with Natalie Bruckner named the winner.

The Gravesend Messenger and Croydon Guardian won the titles of Paid-For Weekly and Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

The presentations were the culmination of an event, held in association with HoldthefrontPage, which saw more than 100 journalists celebrate success for the region at the Corn Exchange in Brighton.

Eighteen categories were decided on the day, with the awards being presented to the winners by England and Sussex bowler James Kirtley.

Editors and their staff from across London, Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and Surrey were at the event to enjoy food and drinks courtesy of the sponsors – and find out who won what.

The awards had attracted more than 150 entries from 50 publications, radio and television stations.

The Gravesend Messenger scored a double win, lifting the title for Front Page of the Year, for an entry that saw an edition published with two different wraparound covers, letting readers decide which of the two hottest stories of the year they preferred.

Fire edition

Whale edition

Among the awards for individuals, Jennifer Makin, of the Southern Daily Echo won Print Journalist of the Year (Daily), and Alexandra Stephens, of the Wembley Observer, and Louise Acford, from the Crawley News, shared top billing when the judges couldn’t split them for Print Journalist of the Year (Weekly).

The region’s Newcomer of the Year was Paul Keilthy, from North West London Newspapers.

The Argus was a double winner, and now boasts the region’s Feature Writer of the Year in Angela Wintle, and News Photographer of the Year Simon Dack.

The other winners were: