Page 1 of 2

The Western Gazette has been named Paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the Newspaper Society's annual Weekly Newspaper Awards.

The paper also won the Best Paid-for Weekly - Wales and South West - title as judges praised it for "providing excellent value for money, with good local stories".

In the Free Weekly Newspaper of the year category the title went to The Sutton Coldfield Observer, which also won the award for the Best Free Weekly Newspaper in the West and East Midlands and Eastern Region.

One of its journalists, Ben Bentley, was named Best Feature Journalist on a free weekly newspaper.

The Aberdeen Independent was named the best free paper in Scotland for fifth year running.

The winners of 21 editorial categories and a host of advertising awards, recognising outstanding journalism, photography, advertising and innovation, were announced by Tim Randall, senior advertising manager of the Kent Messenger Group during a gala dinner at the Warwick Hilton.

The awards were presented by Tim Bowdler, president of the Newspaper Society and chief executive of Johnston Press Plc, and Nick Wilson, marketing manager of Clacksons, which sponsored the event.

For a full list of winners, click here.