THE Wiltshire Times maintained its reputation for scooping the opposition as it picked up two journalism awards on Thursday.

Reporter Matt Wilkinson and photographer Trevor Porter both collected gongs in the 2005 NUJ Wiltshire Media Awards held at the Swallow Hotel in Swindon.

Wilkinson, 26, won the scoop category for his front page exclusive on a bug that saw holidaymakers at Center Parcs, Longleat struck by sickness.

Within a day of us revealing the story it was all over the national press, TV and radio.

Fellow reporters Jenny Haworth and Andy Cryer completed the category's shortlist of three.

Porter, 57, picked up his third award in as many years - this time triumphing in the photographer (best portfolio) category. His entry included Black Watch troops returning to their Warminster base after a traumatic tour in Iraq and a Marilyn Monroe lookalike coming out of retirement.

He said: "I really enjoy my job and put a lot of effort into trying to get the picture to suit the story so I am really pleased when it all comes together."

The Wiltshire Times' sister paper the Chippenham News was also in the spotlight night when former reporter Ben Payne won reporter of the year.

His winning entry included the Chippenham News' extensive coverage of the Amanda Edwards murder case.