A writer from the Press and Journal in Aberdeen has been nominated for an award for her efforts to raise awareness of the work of carers.

Columnist Nicola Barry is in line for a media award from the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

It is in recognition of her sensitive reporting of the work that carers do to support relatives and friends at home who have physical disabilities, mental health problems or learning disabilities.

The Carers Awards will be presented by the charity’s president, the Princess Royal, at a ceremony in Glasgow on November 13.

Elaine McGonigle, director of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, said: “Nicola Barry’s intelligent and perceptive reporting has enabled readers to learn about the caring role that hundreds of thousands of carers throughout Scotland perform every day.

“Nicola and the Press and Journal have helped us to raise awareness of carers and I am delighted that she has been nominated.”

Nicola was voted Columnist of the Year for the second year running at the Press Gazette Regional Press Awards in London in July, and is a previous winner of the feature and specialist writer of the year titles.

She also received the Erskine Hospital David Boyle Memorial Award at the Bank of Scotland Press Awards for her writing on social and health issues in 2002.

Press and Journal editor Derek Tucker said: “Nicola has achieved the unique distinction of being named UK Columnist of the Year two years in succession and this is further recognition of her talent.

“The empathy she has with the people she interviews shines through in her writing.”