NEWS and Star and The Cumberland News journalists are among some of the best in UK - after they were shortlisted for four awards at the national Regional Press Awards.

Your newspaper staff have been highlighted as among the best in the country by some of the industry's most respected experts.

Carlisle United reporter Jon Colman was shortlisted for Sports Journalist of the Year for his work in The Cumberland News; Federica Bedendo was shortlisted for Data Journalist of the Year for her work in the News and Star and photographer Stuart Walker was honoured with two nominations for Weekly/Sunday Photographer of the Year for his work in The Cumberland News and Daily Photographer of the Year for his work in the News and Star.

Vanessa Sims, News and Star and The Cumberland News editor said: "I am absolutely thrilled to see the hard work of the News and Star and Cumberland News team recognised in this way.

"The whole team takes immense pride in reporting the trusted news that matters to the communities we serve.

"Everyday the team go above and beyond to investigate, uncover and report on the biggest and best stories across Carlisle and North Cumbria."

Newsquest Cumbria the parent company of the News and Star, The Cumberland News, The Mail, The Westmorland Gazette, The Whitehaven News, The Times and Star and the Hexham Courant picked up eight nominations across the board.

Sister paper The Mail was nominated for Daily Newspaper of the Year Below 400,000 Monthly Reach, Campaign of the Year for it's Time to Talk campaign, Innovation and Initiative of the Year for the Community Content Network and South Cumbria chief reporter Amy Fenton was nominated for Daily Reporter of the Year.

The Time to Talk campaign aims to remove the stigma around mental health issues by starting a conversation and bringing it the forefront of the community. It was launched after it was revealed there had been a significant increase in people taking their own lives at the start of 2019. Newsquest Cumbria has also be leading the way in a company initiative called the Community Content Network. The project aims to bring the community firmly into the heart of the papers by developing strong ties in the patches we cover.