A VOLUNTEER radio DJ who narrowly missed out on a national award last night said she is still proud of her achievement.

Radio Teesdale presenter Katey Wallace was mixing with the likes of BBC Radio 1 DJs Scott Mills and Chris Moyles at the Sony Radio Academy Awards, in London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, after being nominated in the Sony DAB Rising Star category.

The 28-year-old, from South Cleatlam, near Barnard Castle, missed out on the prize to Kerrang! Radio’s Singing Henry, but said the experience had been worthwhile.

She said: “Ever since I was nominated, it has been amazing.

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.

“To get recognition like this, coming from such a small station, is fantastic.

“I went down to London without any expectations because the people in my category were from national or big regional stations.” The Rising Star award was launched last year to reward the up and coming radio stars of the future. Open to those who have been broadcasting on radio for no longer than 18 months, other DJs in the category were from Kerrang! Radio, Oxford FM, The Hits and XFM.

The winner was selected after an online poll.

Rolf Harris, who was presenting one of the awards, broke into a version of The Lambton Worm when he discovered Miss Wallace was from the North-East.

Miss Wallace is a fifth dan taekwondo expert and is a full-time martial arts tutor, running evening classes throughout County Durham.

During the day, she devotes her time to Radio Teesdale – hosting an hour-long lunchtime show.

Station manager Peter Dixon travelled to the award ceremony – considered to be the top radio awards in the UK – with Miss Wallace.

He said: “Lots of people have been in touch wishing us good luck and it is amazing how much the news has spread. It has had a good effect on the station – there have even been a few volunteers who were thinking about calling it a day, who have stayed on because of all the excitement.”

Miss Wallace can be heard every weekday, from noon until 1pm, on 105.5FM and 102.1FM in the Teesdale area or at radioteesdale.co.uk