Farmers have honoured a regional journalist as she celebrated half a century in the news industry.

Newsquest Cumbria’s farming and rural affairs editor Maureen Hodges has received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cumbria Farmer Awards 2023.

Maureen, pictured, began her career as the editor’s secretary in the early 1970s and then trained as a journalist.

She subsequently moved to Spain, but returned to Cumbria in 2013.

Maureen, who had no idea in advance that she was to receive the honour, told the Workington Times & Star: “It’s been a rollercoaster 50 years and I’ve written some amazing and exciting things in that time, probably one of the saddest times for me was the foot and mouth crisis in 2001, but since then it’s been satisfying seeing the agricultural industry rise to the challenges that they have faced.

“I’d like to thank my colleagues and all the friends and contacts I have built up over the years.”

Newsquest Cumbria group editor Joy Yates said: “Newsquest is extremely lucky to have a specialist writer of the calibre of Maureen.

“Her knowledge and expertise and unrivalled, in-depth knowledge of the sector has led to much of Maureen’s sought-after content hitting national headlines.

“We are all familiar with her enormous enthusiasm and passion for the subject and Maureen is trusted, respected, and admired by the farming community.

“Maureen is simply a phenomenon, a one-off. She has energy – and quite likes a chat, but this may be the one occasion where she is lost for words.”