A trainee journalist, who switched careers after being made redundant, is celebrating winning an award.

Former salesman Stuart Amos took a one-year postgraduate journalism course at De Montfort University in Leicester after falling victim to an IT industry slump.

And the 27-year-old has now been named Reporter of the Year, scooping a £100 cash prize sponsored by the Leicester Mercury.

The award forms part of the university's postgraduate journalism diploma and was presented by Mercury deputy news editor Chris Johnston.

Stuart said: "I didn't for a second think I would win as the standard of candidates on this course is so high.

"Considering I'm from London, it has been tough to find stories that will entertain and inform this area, but it has been well worth making the change to come here."

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