An award has been handed out in memory of a Norfolk journalist who died three years ago.

The Young Norfolk Nature Writer of the Year competition has been set up in memory of former Eastern Daily Press nature columnist Michael Seago who died in 1999 following a long battle with leukaemia.

And the first winner of the competition, organised by Norfolk Wildlife Trust and The Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, was 13-year-old Holly Hancock, for her essay My Favourite Nature Trail.

After Michael's death, his wife, Sylvia, decided that he should be remembered in some way, and came up with the idea of a competition, designed to encourage children to become interested in nature and writing.

Sylvia presented Holly with £50 and an engraved trophy, and also presented prizes to runners-up Ellie Farrow, (16), and Harry Ewing, (10), who both compiled daily nature diaries with their own illustrations.

Michael began his writing career at the Yarmouth Mercury in 1949 and wrote for the Eastern Daily Press for almost half a century.

He was also the founder of the award-winning Norfolk Bird and Mammal Report, which he edited for more than 40 years, and produced two editions of the book Birds of Norfolk.

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