The Tamworth Herald and Kent on Sunday have been named as the best weekly local newspapers in the UK at the Newspaper Society’s Weekly Newspaper Awards 2007.

The Herald picked up Paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year while KOS Media’s Sunday newspaper scooped Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year last night.

The Newbury Weekly News also had a great night, scooping four gold awards in the paid-for categories, while Cumbrian Newspapers took home three.

In the free categories, Kent on Sunday emerged from a broad spread of shortlisted titles as the overall winner followed by the East Kilbride Mail, silver, and Bedfordshire on Sunday, bronze.

Hosted by Adrian Martin, managing director of Newbury Weekly News Group, the Weekly Awards ceremony was held at five-star Oulton Hall, near Leeds, last night.

NS director David Newell said: “We have seen a rise on last year in attendance at the Weekly Newspaper Awards and a broad spread of paid-for and free newspapers shortlisted.

“This shows the breadth and depth of quality in the diverse and expanding local media industry.”

The full list of editorial winners and runners-up:

Paid-for weekly newspaper of the Year

GOLD Tamworth Herald
Central Independent Newspapers Ltd

Silver Newbury Weekly News
Newbury Weekly News Group

BRONZE Andersonstown News
Belfast Media Group

Free weekly newspaper of the Year

GOLD Kent on Sunday
KOS Media

Silver East Kilbride Mail
Forth Independent Newspapers

BRONZE Bedfordshire on Sunday
LSN Media

News Journalist of the Year Free weekly newspapers

GOLD Wirral News
Kevin Core

Silver Manchester Metro News
Helen Clifton

BRONZE Cambs Times/Wisbech Standard
John Elworthy

News Journalist of the Year Paid-for weekly newspapers

GOLD Tamworth Herald
Linda Ram

Silver Herts & Essex Observer
Sandra Perry

BRONZE Tamworth Herald
Andy Kerr

Sports Journalist of the Year Free weekly newspapers

GOLD Rhyl & Prestatyn Visitor
Dave Jones

Silver Kent on Sunday
Chris Britcher

Sports Journalist of the Year Paid-for weekly newspapers

GOLD Cumberland News
Jon Colman

Silver Matlock Mercury
Rob James

BRONZE Crosby Herald
James Maloney

Feature Journalist of the Year Free weekly newspapers

GOLD Cannock & Rugeley Mercury
Paul Kemp

Silver Lichfield Mercury
Alex Keller

BRONZE Walsall Advertiser
George Makin

Feature Journalist of the Year Paid-for weekly newspapers

GOLD The Oxford Times
Reg Little

Silver The Cumberland News
Anne Pickles

BRONZE The Cumberland News
Roger Lytollis

Photographer of the Year Free weekly newspapers

GOLD Lichfield Mercury
Allan Williamson

Silver News Guardian/News Post Leader
Gemma Marriner

BRONZE Mercury and Post
Simon Turnbull

Photographer of the Year Paid-for weekly newspapers

GOLD Craven Herald
Stephen Garnett

Silver The Cumberland News
Johnny Becker

BRONZE Rochdale Observer
Tim Bradley

Sports Photographer of the Year Free weekly newspapers

GOLD News Guardian/News Post Leader
Gemma Marriner

Sports Photographer of the Year Paid-for weekly newspapers

GOLD Buxton Advertiser/Matlock Mercury
Jason Chadwick

Silver Tamworth Herald
Paul Barber

Weekly Website of the Year

GOLD Newbury Weekly News
newburytoday.co.uk

Silver Mansfield Chad
chad.co.uk

BRONZE Westmorland Gazette
thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk

Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year in the South East, including
Greater London

GOLD Kent on Sunday
KOS Media Ltd

Silver Milton Keynes Citizen
Johnston Press

BRONZE The Herts Advertiser
Archant

Paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year in the South East, including
Greater London

GOLD Newbury Weekly News
Newbury Weekly News Group

Silver The Oxford Times
Newsquest Oxfordshire

BRONZE Kent Messenger
Kent Messenger Group

Free weekly newspaper of the Year in Wales and the South West

GOLD Clevedon Mercury
Northcliffe

Silver Bangor & Anglesey Mail
Trinity Mirror North Wales

BRONZE Weston & Worle News
Northcliffe

Paid-for weekly newspaper of the Year in Wales and the South West

GOLD Newquay Guardian
Northcliffe Media

Silver West Briton
Northcliffe Media

BRONZE Weston & Somerset Mercury
Archant Regional

Free weekly newspaper of the Year in the West and East Midlands and
Eastern Region

GOLD Bedfordshire on Sunday
LSN Media

Silver The Hunts Post
Archant

BRONZE The Comet Series
Archant

Paid-for weekly newspaper of the Year in the West and East Midlands and Eastern Region

GOLD Tamworth Herald
Central Independent News & Media

Silver Shrewsbury Chronicle
Shropshire Newspapers

BRONZE Lowestoft Journal
Archant Norfolk

Free weekly newspaper of the Year in the North West, North East and Yorkshire

GOLD South Manchester Reporter
MEN Media

Silver News Post Leader
Northeast Press

BRONZE Tameside Advertiser
MEN Media

Paid-for weekly newspaper of the Year in the North West, North East and Yorkshire

GOLD The Cumberland News
Cumbrian Newspapers

Silver Wakefield Express
Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group Ltd

BRONZE Rotherham Advertiser
Garnett Dickenson Publishing

Free weekly newspaper of Year in Scotland

GOLD East Kilbride Mail
Forth Independent Newspapers

Silver Aberdeen Independent
Aberdeen Independent

BRONZE Allanwater News
Forth Independent Newspapers

Paid-for weekly newspaper of Year in Scotland

GOLD Dumfries & Galloway Standard
Scottish & Universal Newspapers

Silver Wee County News
Forth Independent Newspapers

BRONZE Southern Reporter
Tweeddale Press

Free weekly newspaper of the Year in Northern Ireland

GOLD The Banbridge & District Weekender
Johnston Press Northern Ireland

Paid-for weekly newspaper of the Year in Northern Ireland

GOLD Andersonstown News
Belfast Media Group

Silver Tyrone Herald
NWIPP

BRONZE Donegal on Sunday
Johnston Press Northern Ireland

Supplement or Section of the Year Free weekly newspapers

GOLD Aberdeen Independent
Teen Times

Silver East Kilbride Mail
60 Years of Success

BRONZE Aberdeen Citizen
Student Pages

Supplement or Section of the Year Paid-for weekly newspapers

GOLD Cumbrian Newspapers
M-Sport

Silver Kent Messenger Group
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

BRONZE Chichester Observer
Observer Magazine

Niche Publication of the Year Free weekly newspapers

GOLD Wymondham and Attleborough Mercury
Wymondham Abbey

Silver Bucks Free Press
L. E. MAN Unlimited

BRONZE Stourbridge, Halesowen & Dudley News
“I Will” bridal magazine

Niche Publication of the Year Paid-for weekly newspapers

GOLD Newbury Weekly News
Reflections

Silver Western Gazette
Lifestyle Visitor

BRONZE NWIPP
Gaelic Life