A  young journalist named the nation’s best at last month’s Regional Press Awards has left a daily newspaper for a new job with the BBC.

The Liverpool Echo’s Josh Parry was named Young Journalist of the Year at the awards for his undercover reporting on ‘gay conversion’ therapies in the city .

But after four years with the Echo he has now started a new role with BBC Breakfast, based in Salford.

Josh, pictured, began his new job on Monday.

In a farewell post on Twitter, he wrote: “So sad to be leaving but wanted to say thanks to everyone that had told me their story over.

“Looking forward to a new challenge at the BBC but sad to leave behind such a team I’m proud to call my friends.”

Despite leaving the Echo, Josh will continue to be involved with a podcast supported by the newspaper which he helped to launch last month.

Queer Liverpool, which he hosts with Echo reporter Emilia Bona, is aimed at celebrating the city’s LGBT community and covering topics relevant to its members.