The North West’s leading journalists collected prize money totalling £5,000 at the British Nuclear Group sponsored North West Newspaper Awards 2006.

The prestigious Daily Newspaper of the Year Award went to Manchester Evening News with the MEN’s Helen Tither celebrating as Young Journalist of the Year.

News Reporter of the Year was awarded to Shelina Begum from Asian News.

There was a double celebration for the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo with Chris Bascombe being named as Sports Reporter of the Year and Jason Roberts collecting the award for Photographer of the Year.

Chester celebrated with two awards – Sarah Park from Chester Evening Leader was named Feature Writer of the Year, and the Chester Chronicle won the award for Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

This year’s competition – the 15th – attracted some 120 entries.

Each winner in the individual categories picked up a cheque for £700 and a certificate and the two runners-up were awarded a cheque for £150 and a certificate. The daily and weekly newspaper winners each collected a trophy and a certificate and the runners-up were presented with a certificate.

The judges in this year’s competition were Sheffield Star editor Alan Powell and Shrewsbury Chronicle editor John Butterworth.