A former solicitor who decided to become a journalist following the birth of her son has won an award after success in a public affairs exam.

Alexandra Sage, left, was named the winner of the Oxford University Press Public Affairs Award after achieving a score of 95pc in her preliminary central government exam.

She attended Highbury College, Portsmouth, to undertake the National Council for the Training of Journalists’ preliminary certificate and was presented with a £250 prize at the annual public affairs seminar held by the training body.

And Melissa Ittoo, who attended a fast-track journalism course at Brighton Journalist Works, was given The LGCommunications Public Affairs Award for the best local government paper.

Alexandra, 35, decided to pursue her passion for writing after the birth of her son after previously training and practising as a solicitor for seven years.

She said: “I feel both proud and delighted to have won the award. The course was very intense and extremely challenging but I enjoyed it immensely.

“I very much enjoyed studying public affairs and cannot believe how much I learned over such a short space of time.”

Alexandra is expecting her second son in November and is continuing to build her career as a freelance journalist, while she has also started writing her first novel.

Melissa, left, said she was ‘extremely honoured’ after she was given the prize for the best local government paper.

She attended the fast-track certificate in journalism (sub-editing) course at Brighton Journalist Works and public affairs tutor Richard Lindfield accepted the award on her behalf.

Melissa said: “I am extremely honoured. I am sure that the public affairs knowledge I have gained will be of great value to my career.”