The editor of a free weekly newspaper has fought off competition from some of the country’s biggest titles to be named Newsquest’s Editor of the Year.

Leigh Marles, who edits the Wirral Globe, was nominated for the gong for orchestrating his newspaper’s coverage of a local council scandal which came to light when a whistleblower revealed money had been wrongly taken from vulnerable adults in the care of social services.

The award rounds off a strong year for the local paper. In April last year, the Globe scooped a North West online award – beating the Manchester Evening News and other titles in the region to be named Media Website of the Year.

And in May, the Globe’s ‘Whistleblower’ campaign was shortlisted for Campaign of the Year at the Society of Editors’ Regional Press Awards – the only free newspaper to be nominated.

Said Leigh: “It’s been a remarkable year for the Globe and winning the Newsquest title has been the icing on the cake.”

Group editor Nicola Priest added: “It is extraordinary for a free title to be nominated for such a prestigious national award that recognises the work the vast majority of journalists do in calling to account those in power,.”