Journalist from the Liverpool Echo have claimed top honours at the Merseyside Media Network Awards.

More than 200 guests attended the glittering dinner, sponsored by Littlewoods, at the Holiday Inn Lime Street on Friday evening.

Charles Garside, managing editor of the Daily Mail and former part owner of Liverpool-based Mercury Press Agency, presented the awards.

The Echo's Jason Roberts claimed the Photojournalist of the Year prize, Paddy Shennan won Features Journalist of the Year and Mike Hornby picked up Scoop of the Year.

Fellow Echo journalist Chris Bascombe shared the Sports Journalist of the Year prize with Radio City 96.7.

Diana Pulson, former Liverpool Echo assitant editor, womans editor and columnist, received a lifetime achievement award and Phil Key, Daily Post arts editor, received a plaque for arts journalism.

The Liverpool Daily Post's Andy Kelly won the News Journalist of the Year category and Rick Cooke from Trinity Mirror's Sports Media was honoured with the Designer of the Year award.

Each category winner received a £100 prize and the overall Merseyside Journalist of the Year, Andy Gill of BBC North West Tonight, claimed the top prize of £500. He was also named Business Journalist and Broadcaster of the Year.

Event organiser Ken Bennett, the Network's founder-secretary, said: "The quality and high level of entries was astounding. There was fierce competition.

"The judges said all the winners and entrants can really be prooud of their achievements."