Nottingham Evening Post reporter Kevin Peachey has been recognised for his work exposing scams and rogues.

The 29-year-old beat competition from across the country to win the Regional Consumer Journalist of the Year award from the Trading Standards Institute.

He was presented with a trophy by MP Alan Milburn during the Institute’s annual conference in Brighton, after helping to highlight conmen operating in Nottingham as part of his role as consumer affairs correspondent.

Kevin said: “It is very kind of them to give me the award.

“I would especially like to thank the Nottingham and Notts Trading Standards departments who have been amazingly helpful for the vast majority of stories we do.

“Most importantly, we should praise the people who are happy to have their stories told and their pictures in the paper after they have been conned.

“It means someone else may be prevented from being fleeced of their savings. They are the real heroes.”

Evening Post assistant editor Neil White said: “We are obviously proud that Kevin has been recognised in this way.

“We will continue to work with Nottingham and Notts Trading Standards officers to make sure that our readers are not the victims of the kind of conmen that Kevin has so successfully highlighted in the past.”

The TSI said there had been a particularly high quality range of entries from the regions, but that Kevin had clinched the title for his “high number of front page splashes with his stories”.

Ron Gainsford, chief executive of TSI, said: “Journalists play a vital role in exposing the sharp practices that trading standards professionals come across during their working lives.

“The awards highlight many examples of trading standards services building strong links with local newspaper, radio or TV journalists.”