An exposé about the use of NHS resources has won Eastern Daily Press journalist Mark Nicholls a top prize in a prestigious national competition.

Mark, (left), who is health correspondent at the Archant-owned title, was named Health Finance Journalist of the Year at the 2004 Medical Journalism Awards.

He beat nominees from national newspapers including The Sun, The Financial Times and The Guardian to win the top prize in the Financing Healthcare (Consumer) category with an article which judges described as a "powerful regional story".

His winning piece focused on the re-financing of the Private Finance Initiative deal at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in which the EDP revealed that Octagon Healthcare would gain a £70m-plus windfall from the arrangement with only £30m available to benefit the hospital.

Mark collected his award during a ceremony at the Undercroft, Banqueting House in Whitehall.

He said: "It was a great honour to win this award, particularly against such competition."

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