The memory of a much-loved Worcester News sports reporter lives on – thanks to a new annual awards ceremony.

The inaugural Worcester News awards were prompted by the family of deputy sports editor Tony Moore, (right), who died suddenly two years ago, aged 40.

His parents wanted his legacy to live on in the form of the ceremony, and donated money to the Worcester News to fund the event.

Editor Stewart Gilbert said: “Tony was a great friend and colleague to many at the paper and was well respected in the local sporting fraternity.

“It is a fitting tribute to his memory that we held the awards and we hope they become as well-loved and respected as Tony was.”

Steve Carley, who took on the role of covering Worcester City, a club Tony reported on for many years, was named Sports Reporter of the Year.

He won the award for his exclusive on City assistant manager Andy Morrison, who was the subject of an FA investigation after an alleged dressing room bust up with a Kidderminster Harriers player, which led to Worcester’s pre-season friendly against Harriers being abandoned.

News Reporter of the Year went to local government specialist Tom Edwards. One of his biggest stories this year was when he discovered a parking scandal at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in which visitors were being wrongly charged for free spaces.

Trainee Reporter of the Year was awarded to Kate Yates. Among her scoops was when she tracked down a stabbed taxi driver and she was on the scene when a fire broke out at a local restaurant.

Sub-Editor of the Year was awarded to Jim Collins.

Deputy editor John Wilson said: “Jim won the award for his page designs, particularly in the paper’s Country News section. His layouts are consistently compelling and display to the best effect the work of our talented team of writers and photographers.”

News Photographer of the Year was given to Marie Myers, and Emma Attwood was crowned Sports Photographer of the Year.

Cathy Anstey won Feature Writer of the Year for her two-part piece on the Rev Mark Sharpe covering his ordeal in the Royal Navy where sailors viewed a continual stream of hardcore pornography and the subsequent misery he had to endure as vicar of the Teme Valley South Ministry, where he was at the centre of a hate campaign.