AN independent production company run by one of the region's leading screen actors has won a North-East TV award.

Newcastle-based Coastal Productions, co-run by Geordie heart-throb Robson Green and executive producer Sandra Jobling, won the Royal Television Society North East and Border Centre Award.

It clinched the honour for the second year running, for its ITV thriller Wire in the Blood, starring Mr Green.

Coastal was also praised for bringing jobs and investment totalling £13m to the region.

Other winners at the ceremony, held in Gateshead, included The Roary Roadshow, made by ntl Teesside for cable channel Boro TV, which was named best non-factual programme.

Animator Sheila Graber, based in South Shields, won best digital image designer.

BBC Look North's Chris Stewart was named best journalist for the third year running.

The ceremony was hosted by ITN newsreader Nicholas Owen.