Our sister paper the Hendon & Finchley Times has been named Free Newspaper of the Year in the Newsquest awards for 1997/98

Independent judges last week chose the paper from 110 other free titles owned throughout the UK by the group.

And on Monday night, Alicia Vella, chief reporter of another of our sisters, the Barnet & Potters Bar Times, was highly commended in the feature writer of the year section of the Newspapers Society awards.

Ian Fletcher, chief executive of Highbury House Communications and one of the judges in the Newsquest awards, said the Hendon & Finchley Times was "a very well presented newspaper with a good story count and attractive design".

"I was very impressed by the active letters section incorporating a section of objective editorial comment," he said.

"The volume of letters suggests a well-read and respected local newspaper and the editorial team would appear to have a real interest in their community. I was impressed, too, by the sports section."

At the Newspaper Society Weekly Newspaper Awards, Alicia was runner-up for the title of top feature writer on a free newspaper after submitting articles on actor David Jason, top Savoy chef Anton Edelmann, and on the probation service.

Her editor, Christopher Sparrow, said: "The quality of our journalists' writing has once again been reaffirmed in awards that span the whole of the weekly newspaper industry in the UK."

Presenting the awards on behalf of the NS, the trade association for the regional and local press, John Robertson, chairman of its Independent Publishers' Forum, said: "These awards recognise the excellence in our industry and are excellent examples of innovation and best practice."

Group editor Barry Brennan said: "Another success story. The Times Group has won a huge number of awards over the years. We're delighted with the latest ones. It just reinforces that all the team are stars."

The Hendon & Finchley Times has also been shortlisted as Free Newspaper of the Year in UK Press Gazette awards. Photographer John MacDonald-Fulton is up for the Photographer of Year title.

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