Terry Mitchinson, editor of the Welwyn and Hatfield Times, has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Hertfordshire.

The Honorary Master of Letters was presented to Terry at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the county and the local newspaper industry.

He was also commended for his voluntary and campaigning work as tributes were also paid to the important role of the newspaper in the area.

In a citation given by Chris McIntyre, Dean of the School of Art and Design, Terry was described as "a local man who has an unrivalled knowledge and appreciation of the area his paper covers and of the issues his paper covers."

He said: "While endeavouring to provide an in-depth news coverage of events in the immediate area, the paper under his control, has sought, at the same time, to spearhead campaigns the successful realisation of which, it believes will be for the greater good of the area."

Among the campaigns run by the Archant title are a £500m hospital and cancer centre for Hatfield, a campaign that drew praise from the Secretary for State and Health, the launch of the Willow Foundation and a battle to protect Green Belt.

On a more personal level Terry is also a patron of the Isabel Hospice, a founding trustee of the Willow Foundation, a school mentor and a committee member of the Welwyn and Hatfield Chamber of Commerce.

He is also an inveterate fundraiser for local charities and has taken part in many sponsored events including a climb for RaG and a zip slide from the top of the QE2.

Terry said: "To be recognised in this way is truly an honour. The ceremony in St Albans Abbey was an occasion I will treasure always.

"I hope that in some small way both myself and the WHT have been able to make a real difference.

"We will continue to strive to make Welwyn Hatfield and Hertfordshire as a whole an even better place in which to live."

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