ADVERTISING staff at the company which publishes The Northern Echo are celebrating after dominating an awards ceremony.

Newsquest North-East landed the biggest number of honours at its parent company's annual advertising awards.

The North-East winners in the Newsquest Sales Awards, in Birmingham, were across a range of disciplines, including the best customer initiative and an award for the paper's regular business supplement.

The roll of honour was: Best Christmas Campaign - A Christmas Wish; Best Regular Property Section (Free) - Property Advertiser; Best Regular Business Section - Business Echo; Best Entertainment & Leisure supplement -- The Entertainer; Best niche publication with a core product - Northern Leisure Guide; Best Customer Care Initiative; Newsquest Studio Of The Year; Telephone Salesperson Of The Year - Julie Watson; Best In-House Leaflet Campaign.

Newsquest North-East commercial director Ian Clarke said: "The department's performance exceeded all expectations and is a credit to the company."