Graduate Amanda Smith has won this year’s Alan Burgess Award for the University of Central Lancashire’s best student journalist.

The award was set up in memory of former Lancashire Evening Post journalist Alan Burgess, who died of cancer.

Amanda, (21), graduated from the university with a BA (Hons) Journalism degree.

Her winning portfolio included a story about speed humps in Preston causing problems for hearses, which was used on the front page of the Lancashire Evening Post.

Alan’s widow Alma and Evening Post editor Simon Reynolds attended Amanda’s graduation ceremony at the Guild Hall to see her award presented.

Amanda has been working at the Bolton Evening News since the beginning of June, and has been responsible for several high-profile stories.