Westcountry journalist Barrie Williams is to receive a prestigious award from the Prince of Wales in recognition of his role in helping to look after the countryside.

Barrie, who is editor of the Western Morning News, is to receive the Prince of Wales Ambassadors Award.

He will receive it at a celebration event at Highgrove House next month, along with other regional winners from across the country.

He said: “I am honoured to receive this award.

“It reflects the huge amount of work that is going on to address rural issues and the essential need for regeneration in several aspects of country life.

“There is still a very great deal to be done and the Rural Action initiatives championed by the Prince of Wales are making a genuine impact.”

Barrie Williams (below) has been a leading figure in the fight to restore the countryside economy and way of life following the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.

His paper has launched and promoted initiatives to shop locally and support local producers, as well as highlighting the improvements being made.

Barrie’s commitment to rural action is one of the many issues being addressed by Business in the Community, the national charity that is spearheading the award initiative.

Its Rural Action Campaign, run on behalf of Prince Charles, was launched during the time when the impact of foot and mouth was at its peak, and encouraged companies to “think rural” and consider how they might improve their impact on the rural economy.