A journalist who secured the only interview with the boyfriend of landscape architect Jo Yeates following her death is among the winners of awards recognising the work of press agencies.

Ben Ellery of Solent News and Photo Agency won the spec news/sport story category at the National Association of Press Agency awards for the interview with Greg Reardon, which appeared in 11 national newspapers in December.

The awards, held on Friday also saw lifetime achievement awards given to long-standing journalists Dennis Cassidy and Derek Bellis, who between them have run press agencies for nearly 100 years.

Dennis runs the Cassidy and Leigh agency, while Derek set up the Bellis News Agency in North Wales in 1963.

The awards, which were held for the sixth time, saw Andrew Buckwell from London Media Press win the exclusive story of the year prize for a scoop about London Mayor Boris Johnson being involved in a paternity riddle, which appeared in the Daily Mail last July.

And William Cherry from Press Eye was given a special award for winning one of the photo categories five years running, after he secured the picture of the year (rest of the world) title.

Other winners of the awards were:

Feature Story of the Year: Marissa Charles, Splash News, and Liam Miller, Barcroft Media (joint award)
Picture of the Year: Adam Gasson, South West News.
Sports Picture of the Year: Carl Recine Action Images.
Kevin Fitzpatrick Award (journalist under 25): Aaron Sharp, Mercury Press