Denise Eaton and her team at the Gravesend Messenger have lifted a new award at the annual Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year Awards.

They were named News Service of the Year in a category aimed at giving judges the chance to recognise the hard work of the county’s editors, news and sub editors, researchers and producers.

The judges commented: “The winners in this category provide a news service which the judging panel believed was of national standard, not just the news gathering and reporting but the photography, design and production.

“Their response to a large town centre fire and the Thames whale story resulted in excellent wrap covers, making the most of stunning photography.”

BBC South East reporter Richard Smith was named Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year.

He also won the Bishops Finger Kent Broadcast Journalist of the Year Award and was described by judges as “a first-rate journalist who goes that extra mile”.

The Shepherd Neame Kent Young Journalist of the Year Award went to Jenna Pudelek of the Kent and Sussex Courier.

Her work was described as “versatile, varied and interesting” and she was hailed as “a reporter who demonstrated an intricate knowledge of complex subjects, including the NHS”.

A new category, the Master Brew Kent Feature Journalist of the Year Award, went to Sarah Sturt of Kent Life, who was complimented for her “well-written copy that was beautifully illustrated and always ensured the reader learned something new”.

The Kent’s Best Newspaper/Online Journalist of the Year was Helen Wagstaff, from the Gravesend Messenger, who made effective challenges to the law by “naming and shaming” a persistent young offender in direct response to public concerns.