Germany’s tourist board has honoured a regional daily journalist for a travel piece he wrote for the newspaper.

Swindon Advertiser assistant news editor Stephen Davy-Osborne was awarded third prize in the print category at the German Travel Writers’ Awards, hosted by the German National Tourist Office.

Stephen was recognised for his travel feature, A Trip to Cologne Makes Sense, which was published in the Advertiser in October.

Stephen wrote about exploring Cologne’s urban quarter and also overcame some unexpected vertigo while climbing to the top of the city’s cathedral in order to secure the main image used in the feature.

From left: Beatrix Haun, director of the German National Tourist Office UK with Swindon Advertiser assistant news editor Stephen Davy-Osborne and Nelly Birgmeier from the European Hansemuseum

He placed behind Lonely Planet magazine and The Guardian in the print category.

Stephen said: “It was such a huge honour just to have my travel feature nominated for an award, let alone to win a prize among such industry greats as Lonely Planet and The Guardian.

“It was truly humbling. Thankfully I didn’t have to make a speech, as I was completely lost for words.

“Special thanks most go to production editor Gill Harris who came up with – what is now – an award winning headline for the piece, and for turning my words and photographs into a travel piece that will take pride of place in my clippings.”