The Bristol Evening Post has been named Advertising Publishing Centre of the Year at the 2001 Newspaper Society Advertising Awards.

Donna Newall, of the Wigan Reporter, won Advertising Sales Executive of the Year - a new category introduced for this year's awards.

Winners of the annual awards were announced at a gala dinner by Northcliffe's Blanche Sainsbury, deputy local advertising director (south), and Steve Hollingsworth, deputy local advertising director (north).

The awards were presented by Newspaper Society president and chairman of the KM Group, Edwin Boorman, along with Alex Evans, director of Precision Colour Printing, which sponsored the awards.

One of the judges, Simon Clubley, of KM Group said: "The sheer volume of innovation throughout the regional press is quite breathtaking.

"Most regional press centres are clearly focused on generating additional revenues through value-added products which appeal to both advertisers and readers alike."

Other winners included: