Regional press journalist Ian Drury has been handed an award by the Prince of Wales for his story reporting positive community news.

The former Nottingham Evening Post man met the Prince at a St James’s Palace reception.

The event was to reward young reporters who drew attention to their community through good news stories.

Prince Charles took the opportunity to pay a glowing tribute to the regional press industry as a whole for its role highlighting inspiring stories about disadvantaged young people.

He told guests at the Prince’s Trust Local Reporting Award 2002 how it was good to see them tackle stories a world away from the “demoralising” copy that graces many news pages, and admired their coverage of inspiring stories of when things go well.

Ian Drury, (28), and now a lobby correspondent for Central Press Features in Westminster, wrote an article for the Post about a teenager in the city who was running a crusade to steer youngsters away from crime.

The 18-year-old, Shane O’Neill, was also at the reception, along with all the other young people featured in the winning articles.

Ian said after the ceremony: “As a reporter I was doing a thorough job on a matter of wide local interest but the real heroes are the young people who are working hard to turn their communities around.”

Evening Post assistant editor Neil White said: “The Evening Post takes its role in portraying positive images of our communities very seriously.

“We are delighted that our efforts in this respect have been recognised by the Prince of Wales.

“It is also gratifying that the Prince has such a thorough knowledge of the keen community role that the regional press plays.”

The runners-up were Maggie Stratton, (29), of the Yorkshire Post, and Rowan Entwistle, (27), of the Eastern Daily Press.

Prince Charles said: “I have been hugely encouraged reading about and talking to award winners about all the marvellous things going on, whether it’s in Bradford or Lowestoft or anywhere else.

“The great thing is that regional papers are able to pick up the good stories. We hear so many bad and demoralising stories that we think the whole place is falling apart.

“It’s remarkable the number of people who are doing extraordinary things on behalf of others, often unsung and unheard.

“If it wasn’t for people like Shane, here, getting off their backsides and doing something for their communities, refusing to accept ‘no’ for an answer, then maybe the place would fall apart.

“And if it wasn’t for all of you, in regional newspapers, we would not hear of these great things.”

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