A regional press reporter will fight it out with the nationals after being shortlisted for an award which recognises campaigning and investigative journalism.

Rob Waugh from the Yorkshire Post will battle it out against seven other shortlisted campaigns for the Paul Foot Award, for his series of investigations into the abuse of power by high-ranking police officers and officials.

The paper published the investigations into the police at a local and national level, revealing a raft of mis-spending, abuses of power and conflicts of interest involving Cleveland Police, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Chief Police Officers Staff Association.

Rob’s investigations involved in-depth research and protracted battles to get information disclosed and the revelations have led to a number of inquiries and reviews being set up.

Yorkshire Post editor Peter Charlton said: “I am delighted that Rob Waugh has been shortlisted. He is the most tenacious of investigative journalists, and his work on this story was outstanding.

“To be shortlisted for such a prestigious prize makes the Yorkshire Post proud and I believe illustrates the strength of the best of regional journalism.”

The judges for the award also longlisted and highly commended Croydon Advertiser reporter Gareth Davies for leading the paper’s Lillian’s Law campaign, which was set up after a 14-year-old girl was killed by a driver who had smoked cannabis.

Private Eye and The Guardian set up the award in memory of journalist and campaigner Paul Foot, who died in 2004.

This year’s award will be presented in London on 26 February, with the winner set to receive £5,000 and the runners up each being given £1,000.

The others shortlisted for the award are Tom Bergin from Thomson Reuters, Jonathan Calvert and Heidi Blake of the Sunday Times, Ted Jeory for his Trial by Jeory blog, Alexi Mostrous and Fay Schlesinger from The Times, Claire Newell, Graeme Paton, Holly Watt and Robert Winnett of the Daily Telegraph, Andrew Norfolk of The Times and Stephen Wright of the Daily Mail.

The Croydon Advertiser’s Lillian’s Law campaign called for roadside drugs testing to be made compulsory and tougher sentences for those causing fatal accidents as a result of taking drugs before driving.

New drug-driving laws were announced following the paper’s campaign.