The Yorkshire Evening Post has been named Daily Newspaper of the Year for the third year in a row.

The Leeds-based newspaper chalked up the hat-trick of wins at the annual Johnston Press awards, after winning praise from judges because "it consistently broke big national exclusives telling powerful stories which it presented in a readable way throughout its pages".

Editor Neil Hodgkinson received a trophy from Johnston Press chief executive Tim Bowdler (pictured below) during a ceremony at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel, one of the highlights of the company's editorial conference.

Runners-up in the same category were the Portsmouth News and Lancashire Evening Post.

The Milton Keynes Citizen also scored a hat-trick after being crowned Free Newspaper of the Year for the third year running, being described by judges as the 'Sunday Times' of the frees because of its bulk.

And the Hemel Gazette was also celebrating after scooping the title of Weekly Newspaper of the Year for the second year, beating fellow nominee the Wigan Observer.

Editor David Feldstein (pictured above) and his team were praised for producing a paper which consistently had powerful front pages.

Bethany

Others winners included Bethany Usher (right) of the Sunderland Echo, who was named Trainee Journalist of the Year after producing a series of excellent off-diary stories, and the Mansfield Chad which won the award for the best sales performance for a weekly title, having achieved a massive 22.4 per cent ABC increase in the first six months of the year.

A full list of winners is below:

Daily newspaper of the year - Yorkshire Evening Post

Weekly newspaper of the year - Hemel Gazette

Free newspaper of the year - Milton Keynes Citizen

Trainee journalist of the year - Bethany Usher, Sunderland Echo

Best daily front page - Lancashire Evening Post

Best weekly front page - Morecambe Visitor

Best editorial content on a website - peterboroughtoday.co.uk, produced by the Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Best in-paper promotion or competition - Blackpool Gazette

Best community initiative - Padiham Express

Most innovative promotion or campaign - Manx Independent

Best outside event - Sheffield Star

Best home delivery sales in initiative - Sheffield Star

Best sales performance (daily) - Scarborough Evening News

Best sales performance (weekly) - Mansfield Chad

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