THE Gazette is the best weekly newspaper in Britain according to a host of media experts judging the UK Press Gazette Regional Press Awards.

The Gazette beat five other of the country's top weekly papers, including three former winners of the title, to become UK Press Gazette's Weekly Newspaper of the Year at a ceremony in London on Friday.

The judging panel praised the paper's strong news content and campaigning style, such as our bid to save RAF Lyneham.

There was a special mention, too, for our Shop A Pusher campaign, which highlighted the spread of drug use across the county and led to the setting up a confidential 24-hour phone line in conjunction with Wiltshire Police.

The initiative has already been praised by Chief Constable Elizabeth Neville and Home Office Minister Alistair McCartney.

The award was presented to Gazette editor Gary Lawrence by BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond.

She said of the paper: "The winner has a winning combination of striking news coverage, in-depth reporting and community campaigns.''

The best in Britain

THE Gazette and Herald has been voted Britain's Weekly Newspaper of the Year at the UK Press Gazette's Regional Press Awards the paper's third honour this year.

Already in 2002 the Gazette has won the Newspaper Society Campaigning Weekly Newspaper of the Year award and the BT West of England Weekly Newspaper of the Year title.

The paper collected its third accolade at a ceremony at the Hilton in London's Park Lane on Friday.

The awards judges, who included Daily Telegraph editorial director Kim Fletcher, The Times' deputy news editor Rachel Campey, BBC head of news service, English regions, John Allen and David Ashdown, picture editor of The Independent, had shortlisted six papers The Gazette, the Chester Chronicle, the Lynn News, the Cornish Guardian, the Kent Messenger and the South London Press.

The awards verdict said: "The judges were impressed with the strong local feel each of the shortlisted papers had for the communities in this very hard-fought category.

"The Gazette and Herald, however, was a clear winner and was praised for its aggressive and highly professional use of the broadsheet format.

"Judges felt that strong news coverage, campaigns such as its Shop A Pusher drugs initiative and bright, topical supplements contributed to a complete package that justifies a 3.8 per cent year on year increase.''

The award was presented by BBC News royal correspondent Jennie Bond, who said: "The winner has a winning combination of striking news coverage, in-depth reporting and community campaigns.''

Editor Gary Lawrence said he is delighted for the Gazette's staff.

"Few people have any idea how much work it takes to produce a paper like the Gazette, particularly when we are continually striving to bring our readers something extra in the way of better news reporting, more in-depth features, supplements and community campaigns," he said.

"To be shortlisted alongside those other five papers, all of which I consider to be tremendous examples of what a good local paper should be, is a real tribute to the hard work and commitment of our reporters, photographers, sub-editors and production staff, not to mention the sales and marketing, advertising and administration staff.''

There were other successes for the Gazette's group, Newsquest Wiltshire. Ian Fannon, a reporter for sister paper the Swindon Evening Advertiser, won Young Journalist Of The Year and was nominated for Specialist Writer Of The Year. Evening Advertiser columnist Barrie Hudson was also nominated for Columnist of the Year.

The website www.thisiswiltshire was nominated for Website of the Year, the latest in a string of awards and nominations

Newsquest Wiltshire managing director Mark Suddaby said: "I am absolutely delighted. The Gazette's third award in the space of six months is a fantastic achievement and a great credit to the editorial, advertising, marketing and production staff.

"Congratulations must go too to Ian Fannon of the Evening Advertiser on his award as Young Journalist and his nomination as best specialist writer, to Barrie Hudson of the Adver for his nomination as Best Columnist and to the staff behind thisiswiltshire for yet another nomination as best website.

"These awards show the breadth of talent we have here in Wiltshire.''