A weekly newspaper’s chief reporter has fought off national competition to be named the Young Journalist of the Year.

Inderdeep Bains, from the Slough and Windsor Observer, is pictured with the trophy she won at the GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, which celebrate the achievements of people from ethnic minorities.

She was the only one shortlisted from the regional press to go forward for the awards, for her portfolio of exclusive stories written for the paper.

Inderdeep, 26, won a cash prize and a week’s placement at the Daily Mail, which sponsored the award.

She said: “I was so pleased to be short-listed, so to go on and actually win it is brilliant! To be given an award for doing something I love and am so passionate about is a huge achievement for me.

“Everyone in the Observer newsroom has been rooting for me all week, so I’m glad I didn’t let them down.”

The awards are now in their 12th year and the prestigious ceremony was held on Wednesday evening.