Storygetter supreme Jon Austin continued his domination of the East of England’s premier media awards yesterday as he chalked up an incredible fifth successive victory.

As the 2010 EDF Energy Awards for the region were handed out, the investigations editor for Basildon-based daily The Echo made it five wins in a row in the daily print journalist category – and added the environment journalist of the year prize for good measure.

Yesterday’s awards ceremony in Ipswich, held in association with HoldtheFrontPage, also saw Luton on Sunday’s Lui Straccia win the weekly print journalist title for the second year running.

And the prestigious daily newspaper of the year award went to the Eastern Daily Press, which completed a print-online double by winning the website of the year award for edp24.co.uk

See our winners gallery here plus what the judges said about the victorious entrants

Speaking after his win, Jon told HTFP: “It’s an honour to pick up the award again especially when the other entrants were such high quality.”

The judges had singled out Colchester Gazette crime reporter Emily Parsons for special mention in the category, but her efforts were still not enough to break Jon’s stranglehold on the trophy.

EDP editor Peter Waters was delighted to win the daily newspaper prize in his first full year in charge of the paper after taking over from long-serving predecessor Peter Franzen in 2009.

He told HTFP: “I am obviously thrilled to win and it’s fantastic that our website has pulled off a double for us.”

Lui said he had been surprised at his repeat triumph in the weekly print journalist award.

Also on the shortlist was Keeley Knowles of sister paper Bedfordshire on Sunday, whose scoop about a drunk teenager sending threatening messages to President Obama made headlines around the world.

Said Lui: “I am really very surprised. I would have had no complaints if Keeley had won the award.”

Weekly newspaper of the year prize went to The Brentwood Gazette. Its editor-in-chief Alan Geere said: “Our award demonstrates that community journalism is alive and kicking and long may it last.”

The full list of winners was as follows:

Daily Print Journalist of the Year: Jon Austin, The Echo, Basildon

Weekly Print Journalist of the Year: Lui Straccia, Luton on Sunday

Newcomers of the Year: Iain Johnson, The Brentwood Gazette, and Sophie Scott, Luton On Sunday

Feature Writer of the Year: Alice Hutton, Cambridge News

News Photographer of the Year: Georgina Mabee, Peterborough Evening Telegraph

Sports Journalists of the Year: Donovon Blake, ITV Anglia and Nicky Price, BBC Radio Norfolk

Environmental Journalist of the Year: Jon Austin, The Echo, Basildon

Columnist of the Year: Paul Kirkley, Cambridge News

Designer of the Year: Joe Ringer, Archant Norfolk

Radio Journalist of the Year: Richard Martin, BBC Radio Essex

Television Journalist of the Year: Sally Chidzoy, BBC TV East

Radio News/Current Affairs Programme of the Year:BBC Radio Norfolk – Nick Conrad

Television News Programme of the Year: ITV Anglia – Anglia Tonight

Television Current Affairs Programme of the Year: BBC TV East – Corby: A Toxic Town

Website of the Year: www.edp24.co.uk

Community Campaign of the Year: Colchester Gazette – Treats for Troops

Front Page of the Year: Norwich Evening News -Defeated Clarke heads for exit

Paid-for Weekly Newspaper of the Year: The Brentwood Gazette

Free Weekly Newspaper of the Year: The Cambridge News and Crier

Daily Newspaper of the Year: Eastern Daily Press