A regional newspaper journalist has fought off competition from across the country to scoop a top award.

Sarah Brealey, a senior reporter from the Eastern Daily Press, has been presented with the Medical Journalists’ Association’s regional print journalist of the year award.

She won the contest for an in-depth feature in the Archant title about hospital food and a front-page story about NHS plans to put some seriously-ill people into care homes against their will.

The awards are held each year by the MJA to celebrate excellence in medical journalism and most of those recognised in other categories were national reporters.

Sarah said: “I was pleased to be shortlisted and rather surprised to win, as the other shortlisted entries were of a very high standard.

“I would like to thank my colleagues and editors for their support, particularly features editor Sarah Hardy, who wrote some kind words about me for the supporting statement which accompanied my entry.”

The award was presented by GP Pixie McKenna, who is a presenter of Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies and Embarrassing Illnesses.

Other shortlisted candidates for the regional print journalist award were Madeline Brindley from Media Wales, Marion Scott from the Sunday Mail and Liza Williams from the Liverpool Echo and Daily Post.