A REPORTER and a photographer from The Northern Echo picked up a brace of awards each at the Tom Cordner North-East Press Awards.

David Roberts, who was named North-East journalist of the year and who won the online video award, was praised for his coverage of the murder of Darlington teenager Ashleigh Hall, and The Northern Echo’s campaign to improve internet safety for young people.

Photographer Stuart Boulton was named North-East photographer of the year, and won the Ian Weir memorial award for picture of the year for his image of a soldier returning from Afghanistan being reunited with his son.

Three journalists from the Press Association collected the hard news trophy.

Tom Wilkinson, Rod Minchin and Hugh Mac- Knight submitted a combined portfolio of their coverage of the crimes and police-hunt involving gunman Raoul Moat in July last year.

The lifetime contribution award went to Darlington College lecturer Jon Smith, a former features editor and chief sub-editor of The Northern Echo, for his work as a trainer, author and examiner across nearly three decades.

The other winners were: Trainee journalist – Dan Warburton, NCJ Media; Weekly newspaper journalist – Brian Tilley, Hexham Courant; Magazine of the year – Tynedale Life; Feature writing – Hannah Davies, NCJ Media; Sports writing – Mark Douglas, NCJ Media; Health and wellbeing coverage – Karen Wilson, NCJ Media; Page design – Alan Formby-Jackson, Evening Gazette; Front page design – Hartlepool Mail; Columnist/blogger of the year – Alastair Gilmour, The Journal; Highest National Certificate Exam marks – Alison Goulding, Sunderland Echo.