A regional daily has honoured the founder of a hyperlocal news website on its patch for his work in digital journalism.

The Yorkshire Evening Post’s annual prize for local digital journalism excellence has been given to Luke Hudson, pictured, who created a site called Aireborough News.

The prize, created in partnership with Leeds Trinity University, was set up to recognise examples of strong online local journalism coverage by student reporters.

Luke, who is 21, comes from Rawdon, near Leeds.

He told the YEP: “It was a great experience of working as a reporter with my own patch, as well as creating the website design, and then running the Aireborough News social media channels.

“It is probably the thing I am most proud of in my three years at university, even as a one-person operation it’s pleasing to see the impact my platform has had.”

YEP head of live news Alex Evans said: “Luke is a journalist who has gone into a local patch and got to know the district and its people. This is true grassroots journalism and the website would stand well against any hyperlocal website.

“The website is neat with engaging headlines and the stories are well structured, with local quotes and well-presented informative journalism support pieces.”

Clea Kanning, 23, from Huddersfield, was highly commended for her art site called Artsy In Leeds, as wwas 20-year-old Jonathan Whitfield, from Warrington, for his local sports site West Yorks Rugby Union.